SBIR Phase I: Anti-Microbial Vinyl Nanocomposites

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发用于热塑性塑料，特别是聚氯乙烯的具有生物杀伤性的纳米颗粒添加剂。现在可以在塑料制造过程中添加杀菌剂作为一种成分，使其固有地抵抗微生物的攻击。聚氯乙烯是一种广泛使用的塑料，需要抗菌保护。聚氯乙烯通常用在靠近水的地方(游泳池衬垫和浴帘)，或在表面无菌或清洁的地方(医院或厨房和浴室的地板)。目前，聚氯乙烯受到砷化合物或有机杀生剂的微生物攻击，这些化合物或有机杀生剂会慢慢从受保护的材料中迁移出来。以砷为基础的杀生剂正在被逐步淘汰，杀生剂的迁移损失最终使聚氯乙烯得不到微生物生长的保护。该团队将通过在聚氯乙烯中添加具有杀生剂功能的纳米颗粒来增加杀生剂的持久性。基于纳米颗粒的杀菌剂不会从热塑性塑料中迁移出来，从而延长了PVC的使用寿命。我们将首先检查几种活性有机杀生剂，这些杀生剂已被批准和监管为热塑性塑料的杀生剂。我们的计划是开发用于聚氯乙烯的无砷、非迁移性杀菌剂。商业上，聚氯乙烯是全球第二大产量聚合物，其许多应用需要抗菌保护。具体地说，乙烯基地板中的抗菌添加剂改善了房间的卫生状况，并防止地板下的霉菌生长，这可能会使其居住者感到不适，并导致地板剥离。乙烯基地板下的霉菌生长是一个问题，因为这些区域很暗，水蒸气循环很少或根本没有，并且含有作为霉菌食物来源的粘合剂。杀生剂和乙烯基地板都是很大的市场，目前使用的砷杀菌剂的替代品仍然嵌入在塑料中(因此有效时间更长)，将受到消费者和制造商的欢迎。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop biocidal nanoparticle additives for thermoplastics, in particular, poly (vinyl chloride). Biocides can now be added as a component during the plastic manufacturing process to make it inherently resistant to microbial attack. PVC is a widely used plastic that requires antimicrobial protection. PVC is often used near water (swimming pool liners and shower curtains) or in areas where sterile or clean surfaces are critical (flooring for hospitals or kitchens and bathrooms). PVC is currently protected from microbial attack by arsenic compounds or organic biocides that slowly migrate out of the protected material. Arsenic-based biocides are being phased out, and the migratory loss of the biocide ultimately renders the PVC unprotected from microbial growth. The team will increase the permanence of biocides by adding biocide-functionalized nanoparticles to PVC. The nanoparticle-based biocides would not migrate out of the thermoplastics, thereby prolonging the lifetime of the PVC. We will start by examining several active organic biocides that have been approved and regulated as biocides for thermoplastics. Our plan is to develop non-arsenic, non-migratory biocides for PVC.Commercially PVC is the second largest volume polymer produced worldwide, and many of its applications require antimicrobial protection. Specifically, the antimicrobial additives in vinyl flooring improve sanitation in the room and prevent mold growth underneath the flooring that could sicken its occupants and result in debonding of the floor. Mold growth under vinyl floors is a problem because these areas are dark, have little or no water vapor circulation, and contain adhesives that are a food source for the mold. Biocides and vinyl flooring are both large markets, and replacements for currently used arsenic biocides that remained imbedded within a plastic (and therefore active for longer periods) would be welcomed by both consumers and manufacturers.