Molding Compounds from Perstorp shown to kill SARS virus and other pathogens to make electrical devices “Safe to Touch™”

Sweden-based specialty-chemicals company, Perstorp, today introduced, Polygiene™ a new series of antiviral and antimicrobial molding compounds to make a wide variety of electrical devices such as light and electrical switches plus switch plates “Safe to Touch.” A patent-pending formulation in the compounds is the first tested and proven to kill the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) on contact, as well as a wide range of bacteria, yeasts, and molds. When used by electrical product manufacturers to mold products supplied to public buildings, airports, rail stations, restaurant chains, and hospitals, the Polygiene compounds can help reduce the risk of spreading disease, especially when combined with high levels of personal hygiene and a commitment to cleanliness best practices.

Polygiene compounds used in electrical devises help safeguard these products by cutting the “transmission path” of disease and infection due to their outstanding antiviral and antimicrobial capabilities. This new breakthrough technology represents a major development in the global fight against infection and disease and is expected to find increased use not only in electrical products, but also in an array of other items, such as toilet seats, washroom accessories, public phones, baby changing tables, and other devices that come into daily human touch.

Having successfully tested Polygiene against the extremely resistant SARS coronavirus, and other viruses, bacteria, and molds, Perstorp are confident that a new series of laboratory tests currently being conducted in both Asia and Europe will demonstrate Polygiene’s effectiveness against an even broader range of virus and bacteria. A key focus of the company’s testing program is the MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) bacteria, which is of particular concern in hospitals and care establishments were it can cause serious illness such as surgical wound infections and pneumonia. Research undertaken by Milan University, Italy, has already proven Polygiene’s effectiveness against Staphylococcus Aureus.

Polygiene is a product of three years of R&D investment and can be used in a variety of injection-molded amino compounds such as Aminel® and Amitec™ resins, as well as compression-molded aminos. The technology builds upon the inherent antimicrobial and antiviral properties of the base resins and enhances this via use of a second-generation antiseptic additive. The additive is homogeneously distributed throughout the molded part and is locked into the resin matrix, so it provides protection for the lifetime of the part and never wears off, unlike surface treatments. Additionally, the additive has no side effects for the user or the environment, contains no chlorinated or volatile-organic compounds (VOCs), and does not change the desirable mechanical, physical, or processing properties of the resins.

Amino compounds are commonly used in applications demanding high levels of hygiene. These materials are strong, durable, have a ceramic-like sound and feel with good surface characteristics, are creep resistant, cost-effective, have broad chemical resistance, good electrical insulating properties, and are inherently flame retardant without the use of flame retardant additives. They are also environmentally friendly, since they are produced in a solvent-free manufacturing process.

In response to the growing international concern over the spread of diseases Polygiene was developed by Perstorp for use in applications requiring even higher sanitary levels than in the past. This is especially important for electrical device manufacturers, electrical contractors, and suppliers, who can now deliver products moulded from Polygiene to provide built-in functional hygiene performance needed to meet public demand for increased antiviral and antibacterial protection.

Processing like conventional molding compounds, polymers with the Polygiene technology can be injection or compression molded. They are commercially available worldwide and are offered in a wide range of colours. Versus standard