Antimicrobial compounds open up new markets for PVC products
Dugdale has perfected its antimicrobial compounding technology and is now able to tailor grades of its Ducavin ABC materials to suit virtually any rigid or flexible PVC application requiring protection from bacterial attack. Both product lines are available in clear and opaque as standard as well as colours. An additional benefit is that the flexible PVC antimicrobial compounds can be produced as DEHP or alternative plasticisers which are non-DEHP, ortho-phthalate and phthalate-free thus avoiding authorisation with the European Chemicals Agency as required under the REACH legislation.
While it is recognised that PVC products with antimicrobial protection offer considerable marketing potential in healthcare applications, Dugdale believes its extensive range of grades will enable manufacturers to increase penetration and add value across many sectors including leisure, industrial, commercial, retail and domestic goods.
Micro-organisms that form naturally on plastics products can lead to product staining, offensive odours and in some cases loss of physical properties. Reducing these effects offers attractive benefits for many products, particularly consumer items such as footwear, flooring, clothing and waste containers. Equally appealing is the performance protection afforded as bacterial attack can lead to brittleness, shrinkage, loss of mechanical properties and integrity in some types of polymers.
In addition to the above, the most emotive target applications are associated with risks related to cross contamination through contact with multiple use items such as door handles, sanitary ware products and surfaces in public places which can be minimised by using products incorporating antimicrobial additives. Although normal cleaning procedures cannot be replaced in such hygiene applications, these products offer an effective 'second line of defence'.
All these benefits add value and increase the comfort and health image of products. These attributes are invigorating existing products, making them more appealing in the market place, as well as leading to the creation of new applications for existing materials
Flexible and rigid compounds
Anti-microbial rigid PVC compounds developed by Dugdale are independently tested and include standard and high impact, UV resistant, standard and easy flow injection moulding and general purpose and speciality extrusion grades. Flexible PVC compounds produced can be conventionally plasticised, DEHP-free, ortho-phthalate-free, phthalate-free and designed to impart additional anti-fungal properties. These materials can be offered in flame retardant, non-marring general purpose extrusion and moulding grades.
Both rigid and flexible product lines are available in clear and opaque as standard and colours can be formulated on request.
Applications
Typical applications for transparent flexible grades include breathing tubes and body fluid removal in the medical sector. Rigid clear materials can be used for bottles, supermarket shelving ticket displays, point of sale systems and dairy industry products.
Flexible grades are also suitable for footwear linings and external surfaces, service tubing for food processing machinery and plant, washroom and swimming pool flooring, walls and all 'touchable' surfaces.
Rigid materials will find use in decorative or protective wall and floor coverings in leisure centres, hospitals, clinics, surgeries, school and nursery environments, day centres and in electrical ducting and fittings, water services products, handrails and stair nosing.
