Corona virus experience has radically changed our approach towards anything becomes an object of virus transmission.
Interior and industrial design must take into account this sanitary need, too.
For example by adopting contactless technologies and using coating materials that inhibit the proliferation of bacteria and viruses, such as Akzo Nobel‘s Interpone AM antibacterial powder coating, with BioCote technology based on silver ions.
The covid-19 is showing us that hygiene and sanitization are indispensable not only in hospitals and healthcare places.
We will have to take this into account in the gradual return to work, adopting measures that in other times would have been exceptional and now are becoming a normal habit.
The proliferation of microbes (viruses, bacteria and various microorganisms) affects our health in all the collective places where we spend our life: offices, schools, public transports, airports and stations, hotels and restaurants, etc.
This aspect will also lead to new approaches and solutions in industrial design and interior design.
Designers will use wireless and contactless technologies for devices that require the use of hands (lift button panel, handles, stove, etc.).
It will also be important to adopt new choice criteria for materials and coatings, favoring those with the ability to degrade bacteria considering the durability of this property.
Some metals have intrinsic antibacterial properties – gold, silver, copper, zinc .. – unfortunately unusable in collective places, for their cost.
Actually the solution is to use coating materials “enriched” with chemical compounds that activate chemical reactions capable of reducing the viral load: for example titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide or silver ions.
Silver ions show a toxic effect on bacteria, mould, and viruses. However, advances in technology allow silver ions to be incorporated into everyday products at the manufacturing stage.
These products can then inhibit the growth of microbes, such as bacteria and mould on their surface. One such silver ion antimicrobial protection has been incorporated into AkzoNobel’s coating powders to create the Interpon AM range.
In order to provide to customers with the best possible antimicrobial coating, AkzoNobel have teamed up with BioCote to ensure our Interpon AM product performs to the very highest antimicrobial standards and complies with biocidal legislation around the world.
Legislation related to the use of produces treated with biocidal agents is very complex and allowable marketing claims about product performance vary greatly from county to country – fines for not adhering to local rules and regulations can be very severe.
The antimicrobial powder coatings Interpon AM is based on BioCote technology: silver ion antimicrobial protection is effective against a broad spectrum of microbes.
It lasts for the lifetime of the product and microbial growth is continually reduced on its surface, helping prevent odors, stains and product deterioration 24 hours a day. It supports effective cleaning regimes providing an additional level of protection against microbial growth.
The BioCote protection is permanent, it provides built in protection for the expected lifetime of your product. It has been proven to reduce the presence of microbes on a protected product by up to 99.99%.
Interpon AM is a product range which can be adapted for use in a wide range of applications.
In addition to the antimicrobial properties it will meet the protective and decorative characteristics expected of a high performance powder coating.
