Foam Technology Antimicrobial additives for P
olyurethane foam is an incredibly versatile material due to a host of useful characteristics and properties. It is lightweight and durable, and insulates against temperature changes, noises and vibrations. As such, polyurethane foam is a popular choice of material across a wide range of applications, including medical apparatus, construction, sports gear, car interiors and state-of-the-art audio technology. In fact, polyurethanes represent almost 8 % of the world’s produced plastics, with 3.6 million tons being produced in Western Europe alone in 2017.
Polyurethane foam products are used in a variety of locations, so they are often unavoidably exposed to moisture, heat and dirt on a routine basis, and are sometimes difficult to access and keep clean. Since microbes thrive in damp and warm environments, many everyday foam items could be vectors of transmission for potentially harmful bacteria, which can double in number on a surface every 20 minutes in these conditions. Microbes also cause premature product disintegration, loss of function, bad smells and unsightly stains, meaning that foam items are frequently thrown away prematurely, increasing wastage and generating a significant environmental cost.
Almost 50 % of polyurethane waste goes to landfill, and the largest proportion of that is foams. This is especially concerning, as they pose a high fire risk and release toxic fumes during combustion.3 Foams are also notoriously difficult to recycle, and energy- intensive processes are required to break them down. With the global polymer foam market projected to reach $157.6 billion by 2027, and demand continually rising, there is a clear need for a solution that will prolong the life of these products and reduce the volume going to landfill.
MEETING THE NEED
The answer to this growing problem could lie within the foam conversion process; incorporating antimicrobial technology into polyurethane foam during the manufacturing stage has the potential to make these items cleaner and more durable right from the start. This can extend their lifespan and enhance functionality, hygiene and appearance, in conjunction with routine surface cleaning. Antimicrobial additives can easily be integrated as powder or liquid into the liquid polyol stream, prior to the polymerisation reaction, and this does not disrupt the manufacturing process or negatively affect the appearance or function of the end product. Antimicrobial protection is then a permanent
polyurethane foam conversion Richard Kenney, business development directorat Microban International.
part of the foam structure and will not wear off or become less effective over time. As a result, this technology will actively and continuously limit the growth of harmful mould, mildew and bacteria round the clock for the effective life of the item, complementing a regular cleaning regime. Microban produces a choice of full spectrum liquid antimicrobials that can be pre-mixed into polyols and work at a cellular level within the foam to disrupt the life processes of the microorganisms that cause stains, bad smells and degradation, inhibiting their survival and reproduction.
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON Integrating antimicrobial additives during foam conversion has a huge potential for reducing the financial and environmental burdens of polyurethane foam disposal, and for promoting sustainability initiatives. The importance of built-in product protection has been brought to the fore in recent years and it is predicted that the global antimicrobial additive market will be worth USD $5.5B by 2026.5 Antimicrobial technology is becoming more commonplace, affordable and adaptable, so there has never been a better time to follow suit and make these additives a part of your foam conversion process.
Xwww.microban.com
12
November 2022
www.convertermag.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
