INDUSTRY NEWS
Italian company pioneers antiviral powder coatings against human Coronavirus
Stardust Powder Coatings , a manufacturer of powder coatings based in L ' Aquila ( Italy ), has tested for the first time and with positive results an antiviral coating that can inhibit the human Coronavirus NL63 .
Powder coatings with antiviral properties are special virucidal coatings for application on metal surfaces . These coatings can inhibit the viruses present on the metal surfaces that surround us , for example furniture and lighting fixtures , thus reducing the risk of the active virus coming into contact with humans due to a contaminated surface .
In March , Stardust Powder Coatings – a company specializing in the production of high added-value powder coatings that find application in many sectors – has started the development and testing of coatings with antiviral properties .
The first positive outcome has already arrived for the Metalgrey 1050k product , a metallic epoxy powder coating that is widely used in the architecture and design sector .
The tests , conducted by the Virology Research Services laboratory in London , were performed against the human Coronavirus NL63 according to the standard protocol ISO21702 , which quantifies the antiviral properties of surfaces .
The protocol entails the dispensation of a pre-determined concentration of virus on a surface treated with the antiviral coating and on an untreated control surface . Both were incubated at room temperature for 24 hours in a humidified chamber .
Next , the samples were recovered by washing with media ( neutraliser ), and the amount of infectious virus in each suspension was quantified using a TCID50 assay . For the assay to be valid , the material tested must have no cytotoxic activity on the cells used to quantify the virus , nor interfere with cell sensitivity to infection .
In the material treated with Stardust antiviral coating , virucidal activity against Influenza A was observed with R value ( antiviral activity ) 1.34 at a contact time of 2 hours , and with R value 1.10 at a contact time of 24 hours . An R value greater than 1 is considered virucidal . Furthermore , no cytotoxic activity was detected against the cells used to quantify the virus .
Stardust ' s commitment to ensure safer surfaces
“ Surface hygiene is one of the fundamental factors to reduce the risk of microbial proliferation and cross-contamination – an extremely current need , especially in crowded places such as public buildings , schools , hospitals , transportation , gyms , restaurants or coffee shops ”, explains Guido Pozzoli , CEO of Stardust Powder Coatings . " To meet the growing demand for coatings that can ensure greater surface hygiene , we have undertaken an intense research and development process that has led to the launch of Guardian AM , a range of antimicrobial coatings with integrated silver ions BioCote ® technology which , in just 2 hours , can reduce up to 99.5 % of the bacterial load on a product protected with the coating ".
“ But we didn ' t want to stop there . So , we immediately set to work to bring the protective effectiveness of our coatings to the next level in order to provide an antiviral
property as well ", continues Pozzoli . " The goal of Stardust is in fact to expand the range of Guardian AM coatings , combining antimicrobial and antiviral properties for any colour and finish , and for any field of application . This will allow to further improve the permanent hygiene of surfaces and to achieve an even more effective hygienic defence , alongside cleaning and hand hygiene ".
Tests on other grades of powder coatings manufactured by Stardust Powder Coatings are currently underway at the Virology Research Services laboratory .
For more information : www . stardust72 . com
Stardust Powder Coatings – Made-tomeasure quality in record time for batches of 25kg and over
Founded in 2007 , Stardust Powder Coatings boasts comprehensive entrepreneurial experience in the sector which , combined with its unparalleled expertise , have allowed it to become a solid company at the international level in the space of just a few years , with a production facility and a highly-specialised research laboratory .
Stardust has specialised in the production of small , made-to-order batches , an approach characterised by a non-repetitive production process which heavily involves the client in deciding on the features of their desired coating product . The extensive growth it has experienced has not prevented Stardust from retaining all the added value of an independent , family-owned company : a direct relationship with clients , who can rely on a stable partner which remains constant over time ; an impressive degree of flexibility and speed in making decisions ; and the development of truly tailor-made solutions .
18 NOVEMBER 2020 read online : www . surfaceworld . com