ADDITIVES | ANTIMICROBIALS
bacteria, fungi and viruses, by selecting antimicro- bial active ingredients with a spectrum of efficacy that has a synergistic and complementary effect, Sacristán says. Tolsa is also working on developing new additives based on organic active substances. The company’s antimicrobials are used globally in thermoplastics including PE, PP, TPU, EVA and PVC for automotive, household appliances, pipes and other applications.
Above: Testing by Tolsa:
without ADINS Protection (top); with ADINS Protection (bottom)
compatibility to ensure that the additive, when incorporated, is stable and shows no tendency to bloom or phase separate within the host polymer. This ensures that the antimicrobial functionality will continually protect the product for the extent of its useful life,” says Nandi. The additive has minimal disruption to polymer properties, and the molecule is naturally UV stable. In 2023, Microban introduced MicroGuard as a
metal-free, non-leaching technology to protect against fungal growth as an alternative to OBPA (an organoarsenic fungicide) in PVC, PU, and EVA. “We are aiming to expand to other materials with future development. Enhanced UV stability of this product also allows for the use of MicroGuard in select outdoor applications,” says Nandi. The additive is available as masterbatch pellet and liquid formulations. Antimicrobials can be useful in recycled plastics, says Nandi. “Recycled plastics often contain residual contaminants, such as food residues, oils, and other organic materials, which can promote microbial growth and lead to unpleasant odours and material degradation. By preventing microbial growth, antimicrobials help control these odours and mitigate early degradation.” Increased material durability is a benefit of
antimicrobials, says Marta Sacristán, Function- al Additives Product Development Manager for Tolsa. Tolsa’s ADINS Protection technol- ogy incorporates antimicrobial active ingredients, based on silver, zinc, or copper, on the surface of a clay mineral additive. The active ingredient is encapsu- lated, which improves its stability and requires a lower amount of active ingredient in the final part, she says. The additive offers broad-spectrum protec- tion against gram-positive and gram-negative
32 COMPOUNDING WORLD | July 2024
Water and food Parx Materials’ latest application for its technology is a product embedded with its additive that was granted certification for drinking water use by British Standard 6920 and the UK Water Regula- tions Approval Scheme (WRAS). The company says that its technology is an alternative to traditional chemistries for preventing biofilm in water systems. Parx Materials’ Passive Action Polymer Technol- ogy based on elemental zinc physically prevents the attachment of microorganisms. The additive has been used for several years in food contact plastics and packaging and other applications. In a waste-water drainage pipe system, for example, the additive reduces biofilm and slime, which reduces blockages and leaks. The additive is not consumed and does not leach or migrate. Copptech, which has provided antimicrobials to
Latin America for a decade, strengthened its presence in the US since early 2023, following its initial expansion to California in 2018. Additionally, the company established a Research & Develop- ment hub in the UK in 2022 and opened offices in China in 2016. The company provides products with several different chemistries, including three inorganics (copper, zinc, and silver) and silanes. The products have BPR registration, and the copper and zinc products hold FDA GRAS (“gener- ally recognised as safe”) status.
“It is crucial for our customers to have the
Below: Food packaging is a key focus for Copptech’s antimicrobial products
IMAGE: COPPTEC
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