If you stop to think about how many plastic surfaces that you touch each and every day, you might be concerned that they can harbor microbes that can be concerning for your health and the health of your family. The plastics industry has been working non-stop to ensure that our extruded products are safe and can be not only cleaned but have new properties that make them antimicrobial in nature.
Two different additives are now making today’s plastics resistant to microbes that can cause illness. Organic and non-organic additives operate much like an antibiotic, which clings to bacteria and then eliminates the cell wall in just moments. The downside to organic additives is that while they do work quickly, they do have the tendency to move from surface to surface.
Inorganic antimicrobials are also an option for use in plastic extrusions. Inorganic substances do take a bit longer to work; however they easily remain within their plastic materials and stay in place for the duration of their use. There is no issue with them being transferred to other materials.
One of the most common materials used in plastic extrusions to prevent bacterial buildup is silver. Silver has been used for thousands of years as a way to prevent infections, as a way to prevent foods from spoiling and to help wounded warriors. By extruding plastic parts using antimicrobial additives, you can be sure that your clients and customers will be protecting their health and preventing the spread of disease.
For more information on how Extrudex can custom design your plastic extrusions to meet your health and engineering specifications, contact us today! We have a full line of plastics that can work for your edge protection, trims and tubing.