SBIR Phase I: Anti-Microbial Vinyl Nanocomposites

该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，特别是聚氯乙烯的生物杀灭纳米颗粒添加剂。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，需要抗菌保护。PVC通常用于水附近（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通过缓慢迁移出受保护材料的砷化合物或有机杀生物剂来保护免受微生物攻击。砷基杀生物剂正在逐步淘汰，并且杀生物剂的迁移损失最终使得PVC不受微生物生长的保护。该团队将通过向PVC中添加杀菌剂功能化的纳米颗粒来提高杀菌剂的持久性。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PVC的寿命。我们将首先研究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、无迁移性的杀菌剂。商业PVC是全球第二大产量的聚合物，其许多应用需要抗菌保护。具体而言，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，霉菌生长可能会使居住者感到不适，并导致地板剥离。乙烯基地板下的霉菌生长是一个问题，因为这些区域是黑暗的，几乎没有水蒸气循环，并且含有作为霉菌食物来源的粘合剂。生物杀灭剂和乙烯基地板都是巨大的市场，目前使用的砷生物杀灭剂的替代品仍然嵌入塑料中（因此活性更长时间）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.