SBIR Phase I: Anti-Microbial Vinyl Nanocomposites

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发热塑性塑料的生物杀灭纳米颗粒添加剂，特别是聚氯乙烯。杀菌剂现在可以在塑料制造过程中作为一个组成部分添加，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。聚氯乙烯通常用于靠近水的地方（游泳池衬垫和浴帘）或在无菌或清洁表面至关重要的地方（医院、厨房和浴室的地板）。聚氯乙烯目前被砷化合物或有机杀菌剂保护免受微生物的攻击，这些化合物或杀菌剂会慢慢从受保护的材料中迁移出来。基于砷的杀菌剂正在逐步淘汰，杀菌剂的迁移损失最终使聚氯乙烯不受微生物生长的保护。该团队将通过在PVC中添加杀菌剂功能化纳米颗粒来增加杀菌剂的持久性。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已被批准和监管为热塑性塑料杀菌剂的活性有机杀菌剂。我们的计划是为PVC开发无砷、无迁移的杀菌剂。商业PVC是世界上产量第二大的聚合物，它的许多应用都需要抗菌保护。具体来说，乙烯基地板中的抗菌添加剂改善了房间的卫生状况，防止地板下的霉菌生长，从而使居住者生病并导致地板脱粘。霉菌在乙烯基地板下生长是一个问题，因为这些区域是黑暗的，很少或没有水蒸气循环，并且含有粘合剂，是霉菌的食物来源。杀菌剂和乙烯基地板都是巨大的市场，目前使用的砷杀菌剂的替代品仍然镶嵌在塑料中（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.