Homepage // News Center // Avient Launches GLS™ Thermoplastic Elastomers with Antimicrobial Technology That Protects Against Microbial Growth Tested against common microbes, GLS TPEs with antimicrobial additives are proven to protect finished parts from microbial growth on both textured and smooth surfaces. They are formulated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial from a trusted leader in microbial control solutions, Lonza LLC.

As such, there’s a trend to reduce microbial populations on high-touch surfaces via the use of antimicrobials to protect material aesthetics and durability or to prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms. To better evaluate how to protect plastic parts from microbial attack, Avient conducted a study to screen a variety of plastic substrates for susceptibility using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G21 (fungi susceptibility), Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z2801, and modified ASTM E1428-15a (bacterial susceptibility) test standards. TPEs were determined to be most susceptible to microbial attack under the appropriate environmental conditions.

TPEs were determined to be most susceptible to microbial attack under the appropriate environmental conditions. The initial screening also included an evalua- tion of whether a stipple texture (T-2102) on the part sur- face plays any role in susceptibility to microbial growth. Among commercially available biocidal additives, ZPT and 2-butyl-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (BBIT) were considered for use to reduce the microbial susceptibility of TPE compounds.

Protecting TPEs Against Microbial Attack Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives

Microbial susceptibility of various polymers and evaluation of thermoplastic elastomers with antimicrobial additives Examine the technical details of our research study to test against microbial attack, including the efficacy of GLS™ TPES with antimicrobial additives