A therapeutic or exercise putty includes a boronated silicone elastomer serving as the base ingredient and copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, copper oxide, zinc oxide or zinc pyrithione as a secondary ingredient mixed with the base putty or in combination with an antistatic ingredient. The inclusion of any one of the aforementioned secondary ingredients or the antistatic ingredient will reduce the risk of transmission of or infection from viruses, bacteria and microbial pathogens in or on the surface of the putty when the putty is used for hand rehabilitation or exercise by patients.

The attachment and proliferation of antibiotic resistant, biofilm-forming bacteria to oft-handled material surfaces has emerged as a growing concern, particularly in the biomedical, healthcare and food packaging industries. UV-curable phosphoniums bearing benzophenone anchors have been synthesized with a variety of alkyl, aryl, and fluoroalkyl functional groups at phosphorus to probe their efficacy as thermally stable antimicrobial additives in plastics or as surface coatings. In an embodiment, a phosphonium compound having the following formula has been synthesized:

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in which R is a phosphine group substituted with alkyl, aryl, substituted alkyl, substituted aryl, heteroalkyl or any combination thereof. These materials maintained the ability to kill biofilm-forming bacteria even after being subject to abrasion processes, demonstrating the potential to serve as long-term antimicrobial materials.

Devices and methods are provided to apply thin layers of antimicrobial coatings onto a wide variety of substrates and articles. The methods can be performed at moderate temperatures and pressures, allowing for the coating of sensitive substrates and articles.

The present invention relates to active and intelligent additives having hybrid characteristics, that are compatible with polymers, are thermally and mechanically stable, are capable of releasing electrons and/or photons in the presence of chemical compounds, specifically amino compounds, amide compounds, oxygen reducing compounds, water or vapors thereof. The active and intelligent additives incorporate themselves into polymer matrices allowing the obtainment of active and intelligent polymeric articles. These active and intelligent polymeric articles may act as inhibitors of growth of microorganisms and fungi, as well as indicators of the presence of gasses, either in the atmosphere or caused by the decomposition of foodstuffs, for example.

The present disclosure relates the polymer compositions, fibers, and yarns having near-permanent antimicrobial activity, and a method of producing the same. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial polymer composition from 50 wt % to 99.9 wt % of a polymer, from 5 wppm to 1000 wppm of zinc, and from 0.005 wt % to 1 wt % of phosphorus, wherein fibers formed from the polymer composition demonstrate a zinc retention rate of greater than 20% when tested in a dye bath test.

The invention relates to a powdery composition for use in the layer by layer manufacturing of three-dimensional molded bodies. The composition comprises at least one powder made of an aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and is characterized in that the TPU powder has a melting temperature of less than 135° C. and a melting viscosity at 150° C. of at most 800 Pa.Math.s.

The invention relates to a powdery composition for use in the layer by layer manufacturing of three-dimensional molded bodies. The composition comprises at least one powder made of an aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and is characterized in that the TPU powder has a melting temperature of less than 135° C. and a melting viscosity at 150° C. of at most 800 Pa.Math.s.

The present invention provides compounds that can be used to form antimicrobial coatings on, for example, a surface or textile, including methods of making and using such compounds. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of making such compounds by a single-step reaction. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface, including applying such compounds to, for example, a surface or textile, and, optionally, treating, for example, the surface or textile, to form a coating.

Biocides for bio-based binder compositions are disclosed. Bio-based binders include those having a nutrient source such as carbohydrate, protein or fat, which can serve as an energy source for organisms to grow in areas that contact binder. Principal areas that contact bio-based binder in a fiberglass insulation manufacturing process include the raw ingredients, the binder chemicals, the prepared binder dispersions, the forming hood and related equipment, the final insulation product and, importantly, the cleaning systems and washwater arising from cleaning the manufacturing equipment and/or forming the product. Frequently the washwater is stored until re-cycled for re-use. Storage may take place in tanks, towers, vats and even outdoor reservoirs, all of which may harbor the growth of unwanted organisms, for which a biocide is desirable.

Biocides for bio-based binder compositions are disclosed. Bio-based binders include those having a nutrient source such as carbohydrate, protein or fat, which can serve as an energy source for organisms to grow in areas that contact binder. Principal areas that contact bio-based binder in a fiberglass insulation manufacturing process include the raw ingredients, the binder chemicals, the prepared binder dispersions, the forming hood and related equipment, the final insulation product and, importantly, the cleaning systems and washwater arising from cleaning the manufacturing equipment and/or forming the product. Frequently the washwater is stored until re-cycled for re-use. Storage may take place in tanks, towers, vats and even outdoor reservoirs, all of which may harbor the growth of unwanted organisms, for which a biocide is desirable.