The present disclosure is related to surfaces having various topographical features and methods of making same. The disclosed features, created on various polycrystalline metallic substrates, may aid in effectively and rapidly reducing or eliminating detrimental effects of microbes. In some embodiments, the surface features may include channels and combinations of angular features such as ledges, ridges, and nodules, which may help adsorption of microbes to the surface, increase the surface chemical activity, and increase the effective surface area to support and/or accelerate the killing or deactivation of microbes. Some embodiments including reducing radii of curvature on channel ledges, intra-grain angular ridges, and angular nodules to accelerate disruption of microbial outer membranes by charge concentration and charge transfer. Also described are methods of producing the disclosed topographical surface features at low cost on various polycrystalline solid metal surfaces, for example cast, forged, rolled, drawn, wrought, deposited or coated.

Aqueous formulations containing antimicrobial materials dispersed in solutions or emulsions, methods of their preparation, application of such compositions to surfaces, and their resulting coatings. Coating of hydrophobic surfaces with aqueous solutions or suspensions containing antimicrobial materials are disclosed. Several applications of the antimicrobial coatings are described including the coating of solid and porous substrates such as fabrics which may be used for gowns, masks, and other personal protection equipment.

The invention provides a system for sanitizing fluids such as water and air. In particular, the invention provides a combination of solid chlorhexidine and a polymer matrix, for which effluents are essentially free of leached chlorhexidine. The systems enable rapid disinfecting of fluids, including in line at the point of use, and can be employed for both high volume applications and disposable single-use applications.

Charged polymeric webs, such as electret webs, include a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additive is a dual-function charge-enhancing additive that enhances the charge of the electret and also has anti-microbial properties. The additives are substituted-benzimidazole or substituted-benzothiazole compounds. The electret webs may be a non-woven fibrous web or a film. The electret webs are suitable for use as filter media.

A nanofiber for an air filter and a method for manufacturing the same are proposed. The nanofiber may include a styrene-(meth)acrylate-acrylonitrile random copolymer having a zwitterionic functional group in a side chain. The nanofiber can greatly enhance the bonding of particulate matter (PM) particles with the surface of a polymer by having a high dipole moment derived from the zwitterionic functional group, thereby providing high efficiency of filtration (>99.9%) of the PM particles. Furthermore, the nanofiber can be very usefully used as a core material for air purifier filters and vehicle air purification filters by having low airflow resistance and excellent antibacterial properties.

A product and method of manufacturing and producing antimicrobial fibers using an antimicrobial additive material. The method comprising using various antimicrobial metals incorporated and embedded into an inorganic material as metal ions within the additive material that can be formulated into a masterbatch precursor material and processed to manufacture fine or synthetic fibers using standard manufacturing processes for use in applications from face masks and respirators to air filters for HVAC and higher efficiency HEPA applications.

Air purification devices include an air inlet and outlet, upstream and downstream sections in air flow communication with the air inlet and outlet and a filter removably positioned between the upstream and downstream sections to filter at least pathogens from air being passed through the filter. One or more ultraviolet (UV) illuminating sources may be positioned in at least the upstream section proximate the filter to illuminate at least an upstream surface of the filter with sufficient UV radiation to kill viable pathogens that accumulate on the filter. One or more ozone generating sources may be positioned to generate ozone in sufficient concentrations to kill viable pathogens proximate the device. The UV illuminating sources and ozone generating sources may be positioned to provide a predetermined pressure drop across the sources and air flow pattern proximate the filter, and enable the filter to be removed without handling the sources.

The present disclosure relates to an antibacterial composition, a filter using the same, and a home appliance such as an air conditioner comprising the filter. More specifically, the antibacterial composition according to the present disclosure comprises a polymer resin, and an antibacterial additive composed of an antibacterial metal and an antibacterial metal oxide, and thus a filter manufactured therefrom has excellent antibacterial activity and also maintains antibacterial performance even if washed.

A moisture-retentive fabric medium includes a hydrophilic, thermoplastic polyester fiber as a blend of from 10-905% or 20-80% by total weight of textile fibers and 90-10% or 80-20% by total weight of hydrophilic textile fibers and less than 0.5% by weight of total fabric medium as microfibrillated cellulose fiber and less than 0.05% by weight superabsorbent polymers, the polyester having a melting point between 190-500 F when measured in accordance with ASTM D-3418.

An improved technology for inactivation of viruses, for example the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is causing the Covid-19 pandemic, is described. The technology can include a device that includes a substrate coated in a polymer that is infused with a pathogen inactivating material. In various embodiments, at a given time, a portion of the pathogen inactivating material is exposed to the environment, and the device is configured to periodically or intermittently expose additional pathogen inactivating material to the environment. For example, the polymer can be ablative or sacrificial.