SBIR Phase II: Anti-Microbial Vinyl Nanocomposites

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将开发生物杀灭纳米复合材料，以保护聚氯乙烯（PVC）等塑料。现在，在塑料制造过程中，可以添加杀菌剂作为一种成分，使其具有固有的抗微生物攻击能力。PVC是一种广泛使用的塑料，在许多应用中需要抗菌保护，因为它通常用于靠近水的地方（游泳池衬里和浴帘）或无菌或清洁表面至关重要的区域（医院或厨房和浴室的地板）。目前，PVC通过砷化合物或有机杀生物剂来保护免受微生物的攻击，这些化合物或有机杀生物剂缓慢地从受保护的材料中迁移出来。砷基杀菌剂面临越来越大的监管压力，替代品将受到业界的欢迎。不幸的是，目前的非砷（有机）杀生物剂从PVC中浸出，污染环境并允许真菌攻击PVC。TDA Research（TDA）建议增加旨在分散在PVC中的杀菌剂的持久性。基于纳米颗粒的杀生物剂不会从热塑性塑料中迁移出来，从而延长了产品的使用寿命。该项目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。接下来将是与纳米颗粒合成相关的任务;纳米复合材料的配制和测试;纳米颗粒制造规模扩大;以及性能和经济评估。该计划是为PVC开发无砷、非迁移性的杀菌剂。在商业上，拟议的项目将有助于消除含砷杀菌剂的使用;这些杀菌剂特别有害，因为它们会在环境中持续存在。尽管已知其危险性并且制造商希望停止其使用，但含砷制剂继续用于替代有机杀生物剂不能提供所需长期保护的几种应用中。此外，使用我们的技术还将减少有机杀生物剂释放到环境中，将它们保留在需要它们的聚合物中。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR ) Phase II project will develop biocidal nanocomposites to protect plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 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 in many applications, as it 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 migrate slowly out of the protected material. Arsenic-based biocides are under increasing regulatory pressure, and an alternative would be welcomed by the industry. Unfortunately, current non-arsenic (organic) biocides leach out of PVC, contaminating the environment and allowing fungi to attack the PVC. TDA Research, (TDA) proposes to increase the permanence of biocides designed to disperse in PVC. Nanoparticle-based biocides would not migrate out of the thermoplastics, prolonging product lifetimes. The project will start by examining several active organic biocides that have been approved and regulated as biocides for thermoplastics. Following this will be tasks related to nanoparticle synthesis; formulation and testing of the nanocomposite; nanoparticle manufacturing scale-up; and performance and economic evaluation. The plan is to develop nonarsenic, non-migratory biocides for PVC.Commercially, the proposed project will improve help eliminate the use of arsenic containing biocides; biocides which are particularly harmful because they persist in the environment. Despite their known dangers and the desire of manufacturers to discontinue their use, arsenic containing formulations continue to be used in several applications where the alternative organic biocides do not provide the needed long term protection. Further, the use of our technology will decrease the release of the organic biocides into the environment as well, keeping them in the polymer where they are needed.