An
antimicrobial composition is formed from about 5 to about 25 wt % of an
antimicrobial formulation and about 75 to about 95 wt % of a
polyurethane resin or
polyurethane hybrids, copolymers, or mixtures with other polymers such as polyesters, nitrites, PVC, and
synthetic rubber latexes. The
antimicrobial formulation is formed from about 60 to about 90 wt % of an antimicrobial material, about 1 to about 30 wt %
calcium chelator, about 0.001 to about 2 wt % color and appearance enhancing pigments, about 0.001 to about 2 wt % of surfactants, and about 0.5 to about 10 wt %
lubricant. The
polyurethane resin may be a nonaqueous or aqueous latex dispersion or a
prepolymer that polymerizes when exposed to
moisture. An antimicrobial
coating may be formed on the surface of an article by applying an antimicrobial composition to the article; if a polyurethane
prepolymer is used, the composition is exposed to
moisture and if an aqueous or nonaqueous dispersion is used, the water or
solvent is evaporated. A
coating may also be formed by making a mixture of the antimicrobial formulation and a resin and molding, overmolding, or extruding the article from the compounded mixture.