This invention relates to certain non-
silicone resin cured rubber articles that are made from at least a majority by weight of non-
silicone vulcanized rubber that include silver-based compounds to provide highly desirable long-term
antimicrobial characteristics within the cured rubber articles. Such articles are in either
solid or blown (foam or
sponge) state (or combinations of both in multilayered forms) and can be utilized in a variety of different applications. This invention encompasses the presence of non-
sulfur-based curing systems and agents, such as resin curing, that permit
vulcanization and do not irreversibly bind silver ions thereto, thereby resulting in long-term
antimicrobial performance of the ultimate rubber article itself. This invention also encompasses certain non-
silicone pre-vulcanized
raw rubber formulations made from at least a majority by weight of non-
silicone rubber that include silver-based components to provide highly desirable long-term
antimicrobial characteristics within the ultimate resin cured rubber articles made therefrom.