Antimicrobial Ceramic Glaze Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceramic products used in water storage and waste management face challenges with microbial growth due to limited antimicrobial protection, as high firing temperatures preclude organic agents, and silver-based solutions are expensive and aesthetically undesirable.
Innovation Solution
A ceramic glaze composition incorporating a combination of antimicrobial agents like Ag2CO3, Bi2O3, CuO, SnO2, TiO2, and ZnO, applied in specific concentrations to provide durable, built-in antimicrobial protection, which is cost-effective and aesthetically compatible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silver-based antimicrobial agents are incorporated into ceramic glazes, then antimicrobial protection is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and aesthetic quality deteriorates due to clouding, crazing, and discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive silver-based antimicrobial agents with a combination of zinc oxide and bismuth oxide, which are significantly cheaper materials. This substitution maintains antimicrobial functionality while reducing manufacturing costs and avoiding the aesthetic defects associated with silver compounds in ceramic glazes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by using zinc oxide and bismuth oxide in specific weight percentages (zinc oxide: 1-10%, bismuth oxide: 1-10%) within the ceramic glaze formulation. This parameter optimization achieves effective antimicrobial protection while preventing the clouding, crazing, and discoloration problems that occur with silver-based agents.
2Reliability
If silver-based antimicrobial agents are incorporated into ceramic glazes, then antimicrobial protection is improved, but aesthetic quality deteriorates due to clouding, crazing, and discoloration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive silver-based antimicrobial agents with a combination of zinc oxide and bismuth oxide, which are significantly cheaper materials. This substitution maintains antimicrobial functionality while reducing manufacturing costs and avoiding the aesthetic defects associated with silver compounds in ceramic glazes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by using zinc oxide and bismuth oxide in specific weight percentages (zinc oxide: 1-10%, bismuth oxide: 1-10%) within the ceramic glaze formulation. This parameter optimization achieves effective antimicrobial protection while preventing the clouding, crazing, and discoloration problems that occur with silver-based agents.
3Ease of manufacture
If zinc oxide is used as the sole antimicrobial agent in ceramic glazing compositions, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but antimicrobial efficacy is insufficient for controlling microbial growth and proliferation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines zinc oxide and bismuth oxide in a specific ratio within the ceramic glaze formulation. This combination creates a synergistic effect where the two compounds work together to provide enhanced antimicrobial efficacy that exceeds the sum of their individual effects, thereby controlling microbial growth effectively while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite antimicrobial system by integrating zinc oxide and bismuth oxide into the ceramic glaze matrix. This composite approach leverages the complementary properties of both compounds to achieve superior and sustained antimicrobial performance compared to using either compound alone.
4Strength
If high firing temperatures are used in ceramic production, then ceramic strength is improved, but the use of organic antimicrobial agents is precluded due to decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive silver-based antimicrobial agents with a combination of zinc oxide and bismuth oxide, which are significantly cheaper materials. This substitution maintains antimicrobial functionality while reducing manufacturing costs and avoiding the aesthetic defects associated with silver compounds in ceramic glazes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters by using zinc oxide and bismuth oxide in specific weight percentages (zinc oxide: 1-10%, bismuth oxide: 1-10%) within the ceramic glaze formulation. This parameter optimization achieves effective antimicrobial protection while preventing the clouding, crazing, and discoloration problems that occur with silver-based agents.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The glaze composition demonstrates synergistic antimicrobial activity, reducing microbial growth effectively at lower agent concentrations, offering superior protection and economic advantages while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The glaze composition demonstrates synergistic antimicrobial activity, reducing microbial growth effectively at lower agent concentrations
Data Source
AI summary
An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.