Questions You Should Know about Antimicrobial Powder Coating

May. 12, 2025

38 0 0

Antimicrobial powder coating — Powder Technology, Inc.

FAQs About PTI AM coatings with BioCote® Technology (we know you have questions)

How are PTI’s AM coatings produced?

PTI extrudes the BioCote® additives into the powder coating during the manufacturing process. Since we extrude the additives in, you can be assured that the additives are fully dispersed throughout the powder coating. PTI never post-blends BioCote® additives into existing product.

For more information, please visit our website.

How Does the BioCote® antimicrobial technology in PTI AM coatings work?

The BioCote® additives in PTI’s AM coatings irreversibly damages microbes, stopping them from reproducing and disrupting functions essential to their life cycle.

Why should I use PTI AM?

Your product coated with PTI AM is:

Available in virtually any gloss, color, and chemistry, including textures
Protected against stains, odors and degradation caused by microbes such as bacteria and mold
Designed to last and perform for longer
Easier to keep hygienically clean
Safer to use

How do I know PTI AM with BioCote® is protecting my product?

PTI AM coatings underwent a strict validation process before launch to prove that the technology is working to BioCote®’s performance standards. Furthermore, PTI AM coatings are subjected to regular, ongoing testing to ensure that they continue to deliver the required level of antimicrobial protection.

How quickly will the antimicrobial technology work?

PTI recommends that for immediate results, you should clean the surface as part of your regular cleaning regime. The BioCote® technology has been shown to reduce microbes by up to 86% in just 15 minutes, and keeps PTI AM coatings fresher and cleaner for longer.

How long will the antimicrobial protection last?

The protection will last as long the expected lifetime of the coated product. The antimicrobial additives do not leach or actively leave the cured powder coating.

Will normal powder coating cure temperatures kill the antimicrobial additives in PTI AM coatings?

No. BioCote® additives will remain viable in temperatures up to 1,100°F.

Can I dispose of PTI AM powder coatings in the same manner as non-antimicrobial powder?

Yes.

Do parts protected with PTI AM have to be used differently?

No. They can be used as you would any other non-antimicrobial product — the inclusion of this antimicrobial protection demands no special treatment or usage considerations. This also applies to how they are cleaned, as they do not require any special cleaning techniques or materials either.

Will PTI AM coated products need to be cleaned?

Although protected products reduce bacteria on the surface by design, cleaning is still important, as the BioCote additives in PTI AM will not remove dirt, grease and grime. BioCote’s microbe-killing properties do mean that products can potentially be cleaned less frequently and using less harsh cleaning products.

Can you see the BioCote® additives in the cured powder coating?

No. There’s no discernible difference between PTI’s regular and AM powder coating. However, Using special BioCote® additives, PTI can also formulate the coatings with taggants, which are fluorescent chemical markers. Although not visible to the naked eye, these particles can be identified with a device that will verify their presence – a convincing way to help your customer see what they are getting.

Can I purchase PTI AM in any color?

Yes! We can formulate products in any color, including clear, as well as AAMA compliant products.

Is PTI AM product line food safe?

Yes. Depending on the chemistry of the powder, PTI AM can be formulated to be compliant with FDA requirements as well as NSF/ANSI Standard 51 for use in all food contact types, for a use at a maximum temperature of 250°F. BioCote® additives have FDA food contact approval.

What are some products that PTI AM could be used on?

Some suggested uses include lockers, hand rails, appliances, food preparation and storage equipment, office furniture and equipment, cafeteria furniture and tables, playground equipment, outdoor furniture such as park benches bus stop alcoves, medical beds and furniture, laboratory equipment — basically anything that gets touched. Uniquely, the active BioCote® additives in PTI AM have been repeatedly tested in real situations to prove the benefits of protected products by assessing their antimicrobial performance in places like schools, hospitals, care homes, and food processing facilities. These studies have time and time again proven that BioCote® technology performs in real life, not just in the laboratory.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website YD Powder Coating.

DISCLAIMER

BioCote® technology does not protect users or others against disease causing bacteria, germs, viruses or other harmful organisms. This technology is not a substitute for good hygiene and/or cleaning practices. The content found on this website is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information as advice. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or content on this site before making any decisions based on such information or other content. In exchange for using the site, you agree not to hold Powder Technology, Inc. (PTI) or any of its affiliates or partners liable for any possible claim damages.

Antimicrobial Coating FAQs for Stainless Steel Baskets

In the pharmaceutical industry, the risk of microbial infection is a serious threat. This is why many companies in this industry frequently use antimicrobial coatings on their custom containers, from stainless steel baskets to parts holding trays.

There are many different kinds of antimicrobial coatings that rely on a number of different properties to prevent the attachment/growth of bacteria to their surfaces.

For example, some antimicrobial coatings rely on unique surface properties to keep bacteria from sticking to them and surviving, while others use chemical reactions to sterilize bacteria. The silver-based antimicrobial coating used by Marlin Steel falls into the latter category.

To give you an idea of how Marlin Steel’s antimicrobial coating for stainless steel baskets works, here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions that clients in the pharmaceutical industry have about the coating:

What Microbes Does Marlin’s Coating Resist?

Marlin’s antimicrobial coating, as a silver ion-based coating, attaches to the DNA of certain microbes and causes damage, preventing the microbe from replicating and spreading. While some microbes may be able to resist this, the process has proven effective on dozens of bacteria strains, including:

Bacillus cereus
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella Pneumoniae
Salmonella typhimurium
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus faecalis
Proteus mirabilis
Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Just to name a few.

However, exposure to some chemicals may inhibit the function of the silver-based antimicrobial coating. According to research from the Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales Cardiff in the UK, “test thiol-containing compound (sodium thioglycollate) neutralized the antibacterial action of silver nitrate agains Ps, aeruginosa PAOI and Staph. Aureus.”

The thiol-based compound kept the silver nitrate in the coating being researched from bonding with and killing the bacteria in the experiment the research paper was based on.

How is the Coating Applied?

The antimicrobial coating can be applied to stainless steel baskets or trays like any thermoset, electrostatic grade powder coating would.

Is the Coating an Aromatic Urethane?

Aromatic coatings have a ring structure which would be tighter, and thus longer-lasting, than many other chemical structures. This is why some of Marlin’s more chemical engineering-minded customers ask if the coating is an aromatic urethane.

Currently, the antimicrobial coating used by Marlin is available in TGIC-polyester, urethane-polyester, hybrid, and niloxy variations, but not in an aromatic urethane. While an aromatic coating might be developed later, there is not one available at this time.

Is the Coating Passive?

Passive coatings, like some popular cookware non-stick coatings, have the property of going onto a surface and staying on until they are damaged or scraped off.

The antimicrobial coating used by Marlin is an active coating, meaning that it is consumed over time as it performs its function. The silver ions that bond to and sterilize microbes are lost once used.

Because of this it is necessary to reapply the coating from time to time to maintain the microbe resistance of the basket being coated. Exactly how long the coating lasts depends on the use conditions of the basket, such as the amount of moisture and contaminants the basket is exposed to.

Are There Color Restrictions on the Coating?

So far, there have not been any restrictions on color that Marlin’s engineers have noticed when applying a color to the antimicrobial powder coat. However, like with other powder coatings, the cost of the coating is affected by the colors used in it.

Does an Antimicrobial Coating Cost More Than Other Powder Coatings?

On average, an antimicrobial powder coating will cost about twice as much as other powder coats. This is largely because of the cost of the active ingredient (silver) and the specialized method of incorporating it.

Does an Antimicrobial Coating Feel Different from Other Powder Coatings?

Generally speaking, the look and feel of an antimicrobial powder coating is indistinguishable from that of a normal powder coating. However, the incorporation process may lead to more orange peel than what would happen with a standard powder coat.

Overall, silver ion-based antimicrobial coatings can be an invaluable aid in helping to prevent the spread of bacteria in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process, one that more than offsets the cost of the coating.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Antimicrobial Powder Coating.

10 Essential Steps in Running a Successful Powder Coating Factory

Why is General Industrial Powder Coating Better?

Comments

0/2000

Guest Posts

If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!