ANTIVIRAL & ANTIBACTERIAL SURFACES – POLLUTANT REDUCTION
always-active surfaces
Antiviral Antibacterial Treatments
NANOCOATINGS® antiviral and antibacterial treatments are formulated with nanostructures based on titanium dioxide with high photocatalytic activity and silver, designed to give surfaces lasting antimicrobial properties.
In the presence of natural or artificial light, titanium dioxide activates the photocatalytic process; thanks to the silver-based component, antibacterial and antiviral activity has also been verified in the absence of lighting. Specific laboratory tests have assessed antiviral activity on fabrics according to ISO 18184 and on non-porous surfaces according to ISO 21702, as well as antibacterial activity according to ISO 22196 on the different substrates tested. Once applied, the treatment remains anchored to the surface and continues to perform its function over time. Duration depends on the material, the conditions of use, wear and the cleaning systems adopted.
The treatment does not replace normal cleaning and sanitising procedures, but complements them by giving the surface additional antimicrobial functionality. It can be applied to fabrics, metals, plastics, wood, glass, painted surfaces, marble, stone, composite materials and plaster, without creating visible films or films that can be felt to the touch and without significantly altering the appearance of the material. The applications are particularly suitable in high-traffic environments or where surfaces are shared by several people, such as transport, large-scale retail, hotels and accommodation, schools, gyms, SPAs, offices, collective facilities and common areas.
The technology can also be integrated into industrial processes, working both on components that have already been made and on materials intended for later processing. NANOCOATINGS® also carries out contract processing at its own facility, first assessing the material, the compatibility of the treatment and the most appropriate application cycle. →Read more
The surfaces best suited to this type of treatment include all elements subject to frequent contact or shared by several people, such as mice, keyboards, telephones, remote controls, push-button panels, switches, vending machines, lift controls, self-service tills, shopping trolleys and baskets, handles of refrigerated display cases, cash registers and scales. The treatment can also be applied to sanitary fittings, taps, handles, handrails, furniture, chests of drawers, interior walls, curtains, glass, sofas and seating, as well as to components of air-conditioning and heating systems, such as fan coils, split units and radiators. The technology can therefore be used both on direct-contact surfaces and on elements and materials present in the environment, identifying case by case the most appropriate application cycle according to the substrate and the conditions of use.
During the health emergency that began in 2020, NANOCOATINGS® carried out numerous interventions at public and private bodies and facilities, applying its technologies to surfaces and environments with high footfall. The interventions carried out include the institutional buildings and vehicles of the Province of Macerata, some offices of the Municipality of Macerata and the Emergency Room of Area Vasta 3 ASUR Marche (regional health authority). NANOCOATINGS® technologies have also been used, directly or through specialised partners, in healthcare and hospital facilities, consolidating over time the company’s experience in applying antimicrobial treatments in complex, high-traffic environments.
ZEROVOC VB PLUS has obtained the following certifications:
ISO-18184:2019 – ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY ON FABRIC
ISO-21702:2019 – ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY ON NON-POROUS SURFACES
UNI-EN-ISO-20645 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON FABRIC
UNI-EN-ISO-6330 – WASH RESISTANCE ON FABRIC
UNI-EN-ISO-20645 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON WOOD
UNI-EN-ISO-20645 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON PAINTS
UNI-EN-ISO-22196 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON STAINLESS STEEL
UNI-EN-ISO-22196 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON POLYESTER
UNI-EN-ISO-22196 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON POLYPROPYLENE
UNI-EN-ISO-22196 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON GLASS
UNI-EN-ISO-695 – RESISTANCE TO ALKALINE ATTACK
UNI-11247 – NOx DECAY ACTIVITY IN THE AIR
UNI-EN-15457 – ANTI-MOULD ACTIVITY ANALYSIS
EN-11861:2002 & EN-11863:2002 – FOOD CONTACT COMPLIANCE (M.O.C.A.)
ISO-17094:2014 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON STAINLESS STEEL WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
ISO-17094:2014 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON POLYESTER WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
ISO-17094:2014 – ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY ON ABS WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
The product is not a virucide and/or bactericide and cannot be classified as a Medical-Surgical Device (P.M.C.).
PURIFYING THE AIR & water
Indoor: pollutant & odour reduction
The same photocatalytic principle used to functionalise surfaces can also help improve air quality in indoor environments.
When air comes into contact with a treated and suitably lit surface, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) with high photocatalytic activity promotes oxidation and degradation processes of numerous contaminants. The technology can act on Volatile Organic Compounds – VOC – and on formaldehyde, also helping to reduce gaseous pollutants such as NOx and SOx. Specific laboratory tests carried out on the technologies used by NANOCOATINGS® have also shown the ability to reduce atmospheric particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5. Photocatalysis can therefore complement normal ventilation, filtration and air treatment systems, helping to improve IAQ – Indoor Air Quality – and to reduce contaminants and substances responsible for unwanted odours.
NANOCOATINGS® treatments can be applied directly to the surfaces of environments such as gyms and SPAs, hotels, schools, offices, healthcare facilities, shops and means of transport, or integrated into air handling and purification systems. An important field of application is the functionalisation of filters, with particular experience on ceramic supports. Their large contact surface and the forced passage of air favour the interaction between pollutants and the photocatalytic treatment. In the presence of a light source, TiO₂ activates the photocatalytic process, while the silver-based component also gives the support antimicrobial properties that are independent of light.
NANOCOATINGS® has gained specific experience in the development and industrial application of these treatments on ceramic filters for air purification systems. The technology can also be applied to other filter materials, including non-woven fabric supports, subject to verification of the compatibility of the substrate and of the operating conditions. The same technology can be integrated inside fan coils and HVAC systems, functionalising specific surfaces or components crossed by the air flow and using the normal recirculation of the system to increase contact with the treatment.
NANOCOATINGS® carries out applications both at its own facility, on filters and components supplied by the customer, and directly at facilities and plants, after a technical assessment of the specific conditions of use. →Read more
Photocatalytic technology based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) can also be used in systems intended for water treatment. Through surfaces or supports suitably functionalised and activated by sunlight or artificial light, the photocatalytic process can contribute to the degradation of organic contaminants and the inactivation of microorganisms, integrating with normal filtration and disinfection systems. A particularly interesting application also concerns the surfaces of damp, high-traffic environments, such as swimming pools, SPAs, changing rooms and showers. Pool edges, flooring and areas walked on barefoot can in fact favour the indirect transmission of microorganisms, including some types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for plantar warts.
NANOCOATINGS® treatments give these surfaces lasting antimicrobial and photocatalytic properties, depending on use and wear, complementing normal cleaning and disinfection procedures.