Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine January/February 2022 - 25

PAINT AND COATINGS MANUFACTURING: ANTIMICROBIAL COATINGS
COVID-19 KEEPS
ANTIMICROBIAL
COATINGS IN HIGH DEMAND
E
veryone is familiar with the term " antimicrobial " .
Technically speaking, a " microorganism " is a
microscopic organism such as a bacteria, virus, or
fungus - they exist all around us on the surfaces we
touch and the air we breathe. Many are harmless, and some are
even useful, like probiotics found in yogurt. A microorganism
becomes a problem if it can cause an infectious disease, and that
is when protection becomes important1
. The COVID pandemic
has made us all painfully aware that microorganisms can cause
infections, and that the symptoms of this disease can range from
mild to severe. The severity of an infection depends on several
factors, including the reservoir (what it is and where it came
from), the mode of transmission that it takes (direct contact,
droplet, airborne, vector, or vehicle), and the susceptible host
(how it enters, their health status, etc.). The mandated use
of masks and health organizations' advice to avoid touching
surfaces and to frequently wash hands is important because the
most common modes of transmission of COVID-19 in the chain
of infection are direct contact, droplet, and airborne
transmissions1
. Eliminating, or at least reducing these
modes of transmission can help break the chain of
infection, which is a good thing.
Protective products help manage the risks of
transmission; wearing a mask creates a barrier from
microorganisms in droplets or airborne particles,
preventing them from entering people's noses and
mouths. Proper handwashing, with soap and water or
approved hand sanitizers is another way to reduce the
risk of transmission from direct contact. Interestingly,
some companies in the finishing and coating industries
are using and developing antimicrobial additives to
protect against microorganisms by directly applying or
including antimicrobial additives onto their products
and products' finishes. These coatings act as a front
line of defense against these microorganisms on the
surface they are applied to.
Silver-, copper-, and zinc-based additives are popular choices
used in the inorganic-type sector of additives. Silver, for example,
prevents bacteria from converting nutrients into energy by
disrupting its metabolism. Organic antimicrobial additives are a
bit trickier to implement unequivocally because some have high
levels of toxicity and require approval from regulatory bodies.
For example, oxybisphenox arsine and triclosan are banned
due to their high levels of toxicity2
. Antimicrobial coatings
are being developed and improved to help stop the spread of
microorganisms from surfaces to people's hands, helping to break
the chain of infection.
Antimicrobial coatings can prevent microorganisms from
The global antimicrobial
additives market size was
valued at
$2.5 billion US
in 2020 and is expected to
grow at a compound annual
growth rate of
8.5 percent
from 2021 to 2028.
reproducing and spreading and are therefore an important
market in a COVID-19-afflicted world. The global antimicrobial
additives market size was valued at $2.5 billion US in 2020 and
is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5
percent from 2021 to 2028. Rising demand for healthcare and
packaging products, driven by
increasing numbers of COVID
cases worldwide is expected to
support this growth. Stringent
regulations for antimicrobial
additive suppliers are
demanding new compositions
to meet safe administration
and anti-bacterial property
standards. Regulations like the
Biocidal Products Regulation
and Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
will affect the market growth
in this segment2
. It will be
interesting to see how these
challenges are addressed going
January/February 2022
25
Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Finishing & Coatings Manufacturing Magazine January/February 2022
