EP1509083A1

EP1509083A1 - Antimicrobial polymeric coating composition

Info

Publication number: EP1509083A1
Application number: EP03727498A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralph Nonninger; Martin Schichtel; Christian GÖBBERT
Original assignee: Itn Nanovation AG
Current assignee: Itn Nanovation AG
Priority date: 2002-06-06
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2005-03-02
Also published as: JP2005528511A; CN100463603C; US20050182152A1; AU2003233344A1; DE10225324A1; WO2003103392A1; CN1658754A

Abstract

An antimicrobial polymeric coating system comprises core/shell particles, whereby the core comprises nanoscale particles of an inorganic material with a particle size of < 100 nm and the shell is formed from at least one substance with an antimicrobial effect. Preferably applicable are core/shell particles with a core of titanium dioxide and a shell of copper or silver. A permanent protection against bacteria can be produced thus.

Description

description

Antimicrobial polymeric coating composition

The invention relates to an antimicrobial polymeric coating composition, a process for its production and the objects coated with it.

People are exposed to millions of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and spores every day. You can find them on almost any surface, such as on food, in air conditioning and ventilation systems or even on toothbrushes. Many of these microorganisms are useful or even necessary. Nevertheless, in addition to the more harmless representatives, there are also disease-causing or even fatal bacteria, fungi and spores.

Microorganisms can be transmitted through daily contact with other people and contact with objects that others have used, for example door handles, sanitary facilities, light switches or taps. This danger is particularly high in public buildings and especially in hospitals. In addition to these health hazards, microorganisms (eg mold in the sanitary area) also cause considerable material damage, which amounts to several million euros a year.

Since mankind first encountered this problem, antibacterial substances have been used to minimize the risk of microorganisms. So it was recognized that chemical substances or the use of physical processes critically influence the growth process of bacteria:

physical methods: heat, cold, radiation, ultrasound etc. - chemical methods: halogens, organic compounds and

Dyes, toxic gases, metals etc.

Although chemical and physical methods are extremely effective in destroying microorganisms in most cases, they only have a short-term effect, promote the development of resistance and may not be suitable for some applications because they destroy the surfaces to be protected to lead. The greatest disadvantage, however, is the danger or toxicity to human cells, especially with chemical, organic substances. B. Formaldehyde, which has been used as a disinfectant for many years, is now suspected of causing cancer or being extremely harmful to the environment.

The disadvantages mentioned such as harmfulness to humans, resistance formation and instability against chemical influences show certain heavy metal ions, such as. B. silver or copper and their organic compounds are not. These compounds are known for their harmful effects on microorganisms (e.g. silver tableware), but are not toxic to the human organism.

An organic coating material, such as. B. a water-based acrylic varnish, or all organic coating materials known to the person skilled in the art, can be given an antimicrobial effect by adding silver compounds. Since the silver salts quickly emerge from the coating material under room conditions Wash out again, the problem arises that these coating systems only have a very short-term effect.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a coating system which avoids or at least considerably reduces the disadvantages described. In particular, a coating system is to be provided in which a long-lasting and thus quasi-permanent protection against bacteria is provided. The coating system should be able to be manufactured and applied in a comparably simple manner.

This object is achieved by the coating composition having the features of claim 1 and by the method having the features of claim 15. Preferred embodiments of this composition and this method are shown in the dependent claims 2 to 14 and 6 to 19, respectively. Claim 20 defines an article coated with the composition according to the invention. Claims 21 to 26 show preferred uses of the composition according to the invention. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated by reference into the content of this description.

The antimicrobial polymeric coating composition according to the invention is preferably an antimicrobial lacquer. According to the invention, the composition contains core-shell particles (core-shell particles) with a so-called core and at least one so-called shell. The core is nanoscale particles of an inorganic material with a particle size <100 nm, and the shell is formed by at least one substance with an antimicrobial effect. In particular, the substance with an antimicrobial effect is a metal with an antimicrobial effect or a so-called oligodynamic effect. At this point it should be emphasized that the size of the core particles with <100 nm is of great importance for the effects occurring according to the invention. The core particles used according to the invention are not simply in the sub-μm range, ie either just under 1 μm or in the range of a few 100 μm, but definitely in the real nanoscale range as defined by the specification <100 nm.

The inorganic materials that can be used as core particles will be explained later in the description. However, it should already be pointed out that nanoscale particles of inorganic materials with semiconductor properties are particularly suitable as core particles. Such semiconductor materials with bandgaps preferably between 2 eV and 5 eV can form electron-hole pairs by UV excitation. The electrons formed migrate to the surface of the core particles and reduce the substances located there, in particular the metal ions located there. A metal film or a metal layer, for example, is deposited on the surface of the core particles by this process. Preferred semiconductor materials with corresponding band gaps are titanium dioxide and cerium oxide. The properties described are also important for the mode of action of the composition according to the invention as a whole, as will be shown again later.

The inorganic materials used according to the invention can largely be chosen freely. It is in particular a nanoscale oxide, sulfide, carbide or nitride powder. Nanoscale oxide powders are preferred. All powders that are usually used for powder sintering can be used. Examples are (optionally hydrated) oxides such as ZnO, Ce0 ₂ , Sn0 ₂ , Al ₂ 0 ₃ , CdO, Si0 ₂ , Ti0 ₂ , ln ₂ 0 ₃ , Zr0 ₂ , yttrium-stabilized Zr0 ₂ , Al ₂ 0 ₃ , La ₂ 0 ₃ , Fe ₂ 0 ₃ , Fe ₃ 0 ₄ , Cu ₂ 0, Ta ₂ 0 ₅ , Nb ₂ 0 ₅ , V ₂ 0 ₅ , Mo0 ₃ , or W0 ₃ , but also phosphates, silicates, zirconates, aluminates and stannates , Sulfides such as CdS, ZnS, PbS and Ag ₂ S, carbides such as WC, CdC ₂ or SiC, nitrides such as BN, AIN, Si ₃ N ₄ and Ti ₃ N ₄ , corresponding mixed oxides such as metal-tin oxides, e.g. B. indium-tin oxide (ITO), antimony-tin oxide, fluorine-doped tin oxide and Zn-doped Al ₂ 0 ₃ , luminous pigments with Y- or Eu-containing compounds, or mixed oxides with a perovskite structure such as BaTi0 ₃ , PbTi0 ₃ and lead zirconium titanate (PZT). Mixtures of the specified powder particles can also be used.

In the case of coating the nanoscale inorganic material with an antimicrobial metal as the shell, nanoscale particles are preferably used as the core, which are an oxide, hydrated oxide, chalcogenide, nitride or carbide of Si, Al, B, Zn, Zr , Cd, Ti, Ce, Sn, In, La, Fe, Cu, Ta, Nb, V, Mo or W, particularly preferably Fe, Zr, Al, Zn, W, and Ti. Oxides are particularly preferably used. Preferred nanoscale, inorganic solid particles are aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide, cerium oxide, indium tin oxide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and silicon nitride.

In principle, a wide variety of substances with an antimicrobial effect can be used as shell material for the core-shell particles in the composition according to the invention. However, as already stated at the beginning, it is preferred that such substances are metals (or their compounds) with a corresponding antimicrobial, for example oligodynamic effect. Particularly noteworthy here are the metals copper and especially silver, the corresponding effect of which has long been known.

In the core-shell particles used according to the invention, the nanoscale particles which form the core (inorganic material) preferably have a particle size between 5 nm and 50 nm, in particular between 5 nm and 20 nm. The core-shell particles themselves are preferably also nanoscale and have an (average) particle size between 5 nm and 100 nm, preferably between 10 nm and 50 nm. Within the latter range, (average) particle sizes between 20 nm and 45 nm are further preferred ,

Preferred layer thicknesses for the casing are between 0.1 nm and 20 nm, in particular between 1 nm and 10 nm. In the invention, layer thicknesses (coating thicknesses) between 0.1 nm and 2 nm can be achieved without problems.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the use of core-shell particles with a core and only one shell layer. Depending on the desired application, two or more cladding layers can be applied to a core material, preferably one after the other.

The polymer material forming the main constituent of the coating composition according to the invention can in principle be freely selected in the invention. Accordingly, a very wide variety of base materials or binders, in particular powder coatings, water-based coatings, two-component systems or silicate paints, can be used for corresponding polymers or coatings. In this way, solvent-based or water-based coating compositions can then be produced, which are then either miscible with conventional solvents / thinners or with water.

Coating compositions in which the polymer material or coating system is at least partially miscible with water are preferred according to the invention. One can speak here of water-based coating compositions. Compositions based on acrylic resin, in particular acrylic paints with an antimicrobial action according to the invention, are particularly preferred, and based on polyurethane, in particular polyurethane dispersions. It is also possible to use compositions based on a powder coating.

The amount of core-shell particles contained in the composition is in principle freely selectable in the invention. On the one hand, of course, you want to provide a particularly good antimicrobial effect and therefore basically strive for higher levels. On the other hand, the smallest possible amount of core-shell particles in the composition will also be desirable for reasons of cost. Preferred amounts of core-shell particles in the composition are between 0.1% by weight and 15% by weight, in particular between 0.25% by weight and 10% by weight. The amounts of core-shell particles in the composition according to the invention are very particularly preferably between 2% by weight and 4% by weight.

In connection with the corresponding coating composition, the invention can also be described in such a way that nanoscale core particles (<100 nm) are used as a carrier substance for the antimicrobial-active shell component. First, the surface of the nanoscale core particles (preferably titanium dioxide) is coated with a thin film of the antimicrobial substances (preferably silver). Due to the particle sizes well below the sub-μm range and the very large mean specific surface area of more than 200 m ² / g, an enormous amount of antimicrobial substance is immobilized, thus providing a very large antimicrobial surface. The nanoscale core particles modified to form core-shell particles are then distributed homogeneously in an organic polymer system / coating system, such as a commercially available acrylic coating, by mixing, in particular using customary colloidal chemical methods. This ensures a homogeneous distribution of the antimicrobial agent in the composition / in the paint. If an object or Substrate material, which can consist of any material such as plastic, metal, ceramic or glass, coated with this modified composition, for example the modified acrylic varnish, this object / substrate material is characterized by permanent protection against bacteria.

The permanent protection described succeeds because the nanoparticles coated with the substance (silver) are statistically and homogeneously distributed also on the surface of the applied layer and act there if necessary. If part of the surface layer, e.g. B. damaged by environmental influences, worn or rubbed off, for example, the (new) surface part of the coating has exactly the same antimicrobial properties as the removed part of the coating. This depot effect ensures permanent protection on all types of surfaces.

When using an inorganic material with semiconductor properties as the core particles, in particular titanium dioxide as the material, the advantages described come to bear in a special way. With the particle sizes defined according to the invention for the core particles of <100 nm or preferably smaller, for example <30 nm, titanium dioxide is photocatalytically active. The redox system Ag ⁺ / Ag and Ti0 ₂ e ^" / Tiθ _{2, which} is built up in this way, provides a controlled and long-lasting release of silver ions in the coating system / lacquer. This supports the already existing permanent antimicrobial effect of the coating system.

Another advantage to be emphasized as an advantage of the invention is that the coating system can be processed in a very simple manner, for example by conventional spraying, centrifuging or dipping processes. All this enables the production of new coatings with a continuous long-term effect over several years if normal before coating systems with common carrier materials have long lost their antimicrobial effect.

The process according to the invention for producing the coating composition according to the invention is characterized in that the core-shell particles described are mixed with a polymer material, in particular an organic polymer material, after their production, if appropriate after storage. In order to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the core-shell particles in this polymer material, homogenization is preferably carried out using customary methods.

The core-shell particles are preferably produced by using the nanoscale core particles with a particle size of <100 nm and by applying at least one metal as a shell to the core-forming particles in solution or in suspension by means of a radiation-induced redox reaction. The redox reaction is preferably induced by UV radiation. As already explained, the metal will preferably be copper or in particular silver.

In the process described, the solvent used for the preparation of the solution or the suspension is preferably removed again after the casing has been applied. Then the powder obtained by removing the solvent can be calcined. Caicinizing is understood here to mean heating the powdery materials to a certain degree of decomposition, the crystal water contained in the materials being at least partially or preferably completely removed.

As already described, the paint obtainable by the process according to the invention can be expanded / developed and used in various ways, for example by spraying, dipping or spinning. Depending on the base used (binder) of the composition the coating, for example the curing, is finished in different ways. So it is preferred to cure at temperatures between 50 ° C and 200 ° C, especially between 80 ° C and 150 ° C. It is also possible to effect curing by UV crosslinking. Depending on the type of application, the thicknesses of the coatings obtained can be of different sizes, with the aim in principle being the lowest possible layer thicknesses. It is preferred if the layer thicknesses of the finally obtained coating are between 0.5 μm and 50 μm, in particular between 2 μm and 10 μm.

As mentioned at the beginning, the coating composition according to the invention can be used for a very wide variety of uses in which an antimicrobial effect is desired. Use in a wide variety of insulation materials that are particularly at risk of bacterial attack should be emphasized here. Insulation materials, such as those used for sheathing pipes and the like, can be mentioned here in particular. The coating composition according to the invention is particularly advantageous in the case of elastomeric insulating materials.

The coating composition according to the invention is also advantageous in the case of so-called technical insulation, as used for the insulation of pipelines, for example heating pipes, valves and channels. All thermal and / or acoustic insulation and insulation materials, such as those used for many applications, should also be mentioned as preferred. Finally, the so-called technical foams should be mentioned here as preferred substrates to be coated. As is well known, these are structures made of gas-filled cells that are delimited and connected to one another via so-called cell bridges. Like the other materials and articles mentioned, these foams or foams can likewise be treated with the antimicrobial po- provided, in particular coated, polymeric coating composition.

Coatings for air conditioning systems, condensers, refrigerators and other cooling units as well as their parts should also be mentioned. Also to be emphasized is the use of the coating composition according to the invention as paints for seagoing vehicles (civil or military) and for wood protection.

The coating of substrates, preferably made of metal, plastic or ceramic, in hygiene facilities, hospitals and in the food industry should also be mentioned. In particular, frequently contacted objects that can easily transmit infectious agents, such as door handles, sanitary fittings, switches and handles, are to be mentioned here. In the case of such coatings, the use of a coating composition in the form of powder coatings has proven to be particularly advantageous.

The described and further features of the invention result from the following description of examples in conjunction with the claims. The individual features of the invention can be implemented individually or in combination with one another.

Examples

example 1

The procedure for producing core-shell particles with a core made of titanium dioxide and a shell made of silver which can be used according to the invention is as follows. The silver is first adsorbed on the titanium dioxide surface in the form of ions and then reduced by electrons, which are induced by UV radiation. The layer thickness of the Silver can be controlled by the concentration of silver ions in the suspension / solution and by the intensity and duration of the UV treatment.

In the specific example, a quantity of 1 g of nanoscale titanium dioxide powder (titanium dioxide P 25, Degussa, Germany) is suspended in a hydrochloric acid aqueous solution (pH = 2) with constant stirring. Silver nitrate is added to this suspension as a slightly water-soluble silver salt, the amount of silver nitrate being selected as a function of the desired layer thickness of the silver coating layer. The suspension is then irradiated with a UV lamp (without filter, power between 80 and 120 watts) for 10 minutes with constant stirring. The silver-coated titanium dioxide is then worked up by centrifugation, washing with water or dialysis through a semipermeable membrane.

With the chosen irradiation time of 10 min, the following layer thicknesses can be obtained depending on the concentration of the silver ions: - 0.01 mol of silver ion layer thickness 0.1 nm

0.12 mol of silver ion layer thickness 1 nm

0.32 mol silver ion layer thickness 2 nm

As mentioned at the beginning, the layer thickness of the silver layer can also be varied by the irradiation time. Assuming 1 g of titanium dioxide and a silver ion concentration of 0.12 mol, the duration of the UV radiation has the following effects:

1 min UV radiation layer thickness approx. 0.15 nm

5 min UV radiation layer thickness approx. 0.65 nm - 10 min UV radiation layer thickness approx. 1 nm

The core-shell particles thus obtained are provided as a 30% by weight aqueous paste. Then 3 g of this paste are stirred into 100 ml of a commercially available acrylic lacquer (clear lacquer, from Faust) and homogenized. A modified acrylic varnish with excellent microbial properties is obtained. This can be applied in any way (spraying, dipping or spinning) to any plastic substrate. Before applying the coating, the surface of the plastic can be activated in the usual way by applying a primer or by corona treatment.

Example 2

Core-shell particles with a core made of titanium dioxide and a shell made of copper ions are produced in the same way as in Example 1. The copper is used as a copper chloride solution (VWR International GmbH, Darmstadt).

Here too, a 30% by weight aqueous paste is provided, which is stirred in and homogenized in the same amount as in Example 1 in an equal amount of acrylic lacquer. The further processing takes place as in Example 1 with the same success.

Example 3

Then 3 g of this sample are stirred into 1000 ml of ethylene glycol and homogenized. This mixture becomes a polyurethane with isocyanate polymerized. The powder coating thus obtained is applied to any substrate, preferably metal, plastic or wood.

Claims

claims

1. Antimicrobial polymeric coating composition, in particular antimicrobial paint, containing core-shell particles with a so-called core and at least one so-called shell, the core being nanoscale particles of an inorganic material with a particle size <100 nm, and the shell of at least one substance with an antimicrobial effect, in particular is formed by at least one metal with an antimicrobial effect.

2. Coating composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the inorganic material has semiconductor properties.

3. Coating composition according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inorganic material is a nanoscale oxide, sulfide, carbide or nitride powder.

4. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inorganic material is a nanoscale oxide powder.

5. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inorganic material is titanium dioxide (Ti0 ₂ ).

6. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal is silver or copper.

7. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nanoscale

Particles that form the core have a particle size between 5 nm and 50 nm, preferably between 5 nm and 20 nm.

8. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core-shell particles have a particle size between 5 nm and 100 nm, preferably between 10 nm and 50 nm, in particular between 20 nm and 45 nm.

9. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the layer thickness of the shell is between 0.1 nm and 20 nm, preferably between 1 nm and 10 nm.

10. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a water-miscible coating composition.

11. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a coating composition based on acrylic resins or based on polyurethane.

12. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a Coating composition based on a powder coating.

13. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the core-shell particles in the composition in amounts between 0.1% by weight and 15% by weight, preferably in amounts between 0.25% by weight and 10% by weight, and particularly preferably in amounts between 2% by weight and 4% by weight.

14. Coating composition according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is present as a layer on a substrate.

15. A method for producing an antimicrobial polymeric coating composition according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that core-shell particles with a core of nanoscale particles of an inorganic material with a particle size <100 nm and a shell of at least one substance with an antimicrobial effect mixed with an organic polymer material, preferably homogenized.

16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that for the production of the core-shell particles nanoscale particles of an inorganic material with a particle size <100 nm are used as the core, and on these the core-forming particles in solution or in suspension by a radiation-induced Redox reaction at least one metal is applied as a shell.

17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that the redox reaction is induced by UV radiation.

18. The method according to claim 16 or claim 17, characterized in that the metal is copper or silver.

19. The method according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that after the application of the shell, the solvent is removed and preferably the powder thus obtained is calcined.

20. Object, characterized in that it is at least partially, preferably completely, coated with the coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

21. Use of the coating composition according to one of claims 1 to 14 for coating insulating materials and insulating materials, in particular elastomeric insulating materials and insulating materials.

22. Use of the coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for coating so-called technical insulation, technical foams or thermal and / or acoustic insulation.

23. Use of the coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for coating air conditioning and cooling units and their parts.

24. Use of the coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14 as a paint for marine vehicles.

25. Use of the coating composition according to one of claims 1 to 14 as a wood protection coating.

26. Use of the coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for coating substrates in hygiene facilities, hospitals and in the food industry.