Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B2O3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

A cost-effective and practical antimicrobial glaze system and glazing process is disclosed herein. The antimicrobial glaze/enamel may comprise at least two layers: a base layer and a top layer. The base layer may contain a typical or normal glaze widely used in sanitary ware, having a low level of zinc oxide. The base layer glaze may be directly sprayed on the clay body surface. A thin top glaze layer is sprayed on top of the base glaze layer and the top layer may contain a high level of zinc oxide.

The invention relates to a coated glass substrate or glass ceramic substrate with resistant, multi-functional surface properties, including a combination of anti-microbial, anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint properties, or a combination of anti-microbial, anti-reflective and anti-fingerprint properties where the substrate is chemically pre-stressed, or a combination of anti-microbial and anti-reflective properties where the substrate is chemically pre-stressed. The coated glass substrate or glass ceramic substrate exhibits a unique combination of functions which are permanently present and do not exert a negative effect on each other.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.

A method of making an antimicrobial composite article, including the steps: providing a matrix comprising a polymeric material; providing a plurality of second phase particles comprising an antimicrobial agent; melting the matrix to form a matrix melt; distributing the plurality of second phase particles in the matrix melt at a second phase volume fraction to form a composite melt; forming a composite article from the composite melt; and treating the composite article to form an antimicrobial composite article having an exterior surface comprising an exposed portion of the matrix and the plurality of second phase particles. The distributing step can employ an extrusion process. The forming a composite article step can employ an injection molding process. The treating step can employ abrading and plasma-treating the article to define the exterior surface.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomomas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

An antimicrobial glass tablet that releases silver ions when brought into direct contact with water, containing: Ag.sub.2O within the range of above 5% by weight but less than 10% by weight, ZnO below 10% by weight, P.sub.2O.sub.5, CaO, K.sub.2O, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and MgO.

A glass laminate for an architectural element has a glass substrate coupled to the architectural element and defines a primary surface facing away from the architectural element. A phase-separable glass cladding is coupled to the primary surface. The cladding has an interconnected matrix with a first phase composition and a second phase that has a second phase composition different than the first phase composition. The second phase is distributed throughout the interconnected matrix. A copper phase is distributed within the interconnected matrix. The glass cladding has an antimicrobial log kill rate greater than about 4 as measured by an EPA Copper Test Protocol.

An antimicrobial article having a substrate, and a coating on a surface of the substrate. The coating includes a silver-containing alkali silicate. The antimicrobial article has an antimicrobial efficacy of greater than or equal to about 90.0% according to EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy Surfaces as a Sanitizer. The coating may further include at least one of a boron-containing compound and an aluminum-containing compound. A method for forming antimicrobial articles includes coating a substrate with a mixture comprising an alkali silicate; curing the coating at a temperature from greater than or equal to about 300° C. to less than or equal to about 620° C. for a duration of greater than or equal to about 15 minutes to less than or equal to about 120 minutes; and contacting the coating with an antimicrobial medium comprising silver nitrate and an alkali nitrate.