A research team of PolyU has invented a long lasting antimicrobial self-disinfection 3D printing material with an antiviral rate of 99.2% in 20 mins and 99.9% within 2 hours, which effectively blocks the infection of COVID-19 in public facilities.
COVID-19 has still not gone away and continues to affect the community in various ways. In addition to maintaining good personal hygiene, we should not overlook the potential risks of infection via public spaces and facilities. It’s possible for people to become infected if they touch surfaces contaminated with the virus or bacteria, and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. To minimise such risks, regular cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs in public toilets, handles and lift buttons etc. is essential.
This novel technology, embedded antimicrobial agents layer-by-layer through 3D printing process, which develop positively-charged layers inside-out. Once bacteria or coronaviruses touch the surface of the IMU+® material, their cell walls or envelopes are physically ruptured instantaneously. These pathogens are being killed. Even if the material surface is worn off, the antimicrobial agents in subsequent layers are still able to maintain the antiviral and antibacterial functions of our products over 3 years.
Coronavirus pandemic created a New Normal problem. People care about public sanitization, pay extra manpower in cleaning public area, afraid of contamination between cleanings and missing area. However, Antimicrobial Spray Coating is easy on – easy off, its transparent nature can’t tell if it’s still effective. In addition, most of them only work for 30-60 days.
Immune Materials Limited dedicates to develop long lasting antimicrobial self-disinfection materials which can be free from routine human intervention, provide peace-of-mind to users worrying Coronavirus or common cold virus infection, and save costs.