Introducing the PCL Antimicrobial Polymers Range

Polymer Compounders Limited (PCL), with its long track record of manufacturing antimicrobial polymers, is proud to be able to provide innovative solutions to meet its customer’s needs. PCL has been working closely with OEM’s and specialist antimicrobial manufacturers, continuing to bring polymer antimicrobial technology forward.

This is an exacting science, and each development has different needs which require addressing methodically to ensure compliance and the success of your application, from tooling development to a successful finished product, providing repeatable results backed up with complete testing data.

PCL has developed its range of antimicrobial compounded resins in cooperation with antimicrobial specialists. It does not use additives with potential health or environmental concerns, such as Triclosan or nano-scale particles. All active substances, based mainly on silver ions, are being supported by the European Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012), which has been put in place to rid the market of unregistered and potentially dangerous biocides.

The active substances used in PCL’s resins are also approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in the United States.

PCL regularly compounds antimicrobial additives into different materials on behalf of OEMS’s from low melt polycarbonate (PC-COM) to PC ABS alloy products (FR PCABSCOM) of varying colours and all standard plastics types.

Key applications and Technical Implications

Significant applications for the resin compounder’s antimicrobial polymer are aeroplane interiors and washroom facilities, which naturally need to be highly challenging and complex surfaces for viruses to survive. In the current global climate and pandemic situation, the application opportunities are almost limitless for PCL’s antibacterial compounds, such as enclosed areas, including vehicle interiors and all ‘high touch rate’ contact environments from handles to switches to computer consoles and phones; the list is endless.

PCL’s goal regarding new developments has always been to create materials that will aid humanity in some way, maybe even its survival! This can be seen in all of PCL’s developments over nearly thirty years. One example of these products is ABSCOM B200C; a super strong, super light class-leading PC/ABS alloy that passed all tests required for use in Automotive applications. It is the centre console fitted to a global Japanese car manufacturer’s car interior, along with some other highly specialised products—another potential candidate for the inclusion of antimicrobials in our compounded product.

With strong and continued investment, PCL has a versatile modern manufacturing plant, able to deliver from just a few kgs to many tonnes of compounded antimicrobial material at our two sites in historic Durham.

Read more from Polymer Compounders here.

Polymer Compounders Ltd
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