Antimicrobial Edge Strip Composition for Deposit-Resistant Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing edge strips for the furniture industry face challenges in reducing the deposition of aggressive substances and microorganisms on their surface, while maintaining material and decorative properties, and are often costly to produce.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating oligodynamically acting materials, such as bactericidal and fungicidal metal components or organometallic compounds, in amounts of 0.05 to 20% by total mass, within the polymeric material or decorative elements of the edge strip, ensuring a spatially consistent distribution to prevent chemical or biological incrustations, with metal-releasing substances like zeolites providing long-term protection against microbial growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional complex protective layers are applied to edge strips to prevent microbial growth and deposition of aggressive substances, then the protective effect is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective effect against microbial growthVSAvoidcomplexity of protective layers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the polymeric material by incorporating oligodynamically active metals (silver, zinc, copper, or their compounds) at concentrations of 0.01-10% by weight. This parameter change赋予s the base material inherent antimicrobial properties without requiring additional protective layers, thus resolving the contradiction between protective effect and structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material by combining polymeric material with oligodynamically active metal components. This composite structure integrates the protective function directly into the material matrix, eliminating the need for separate protective layers while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appearance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If oligodynamically acting materials are incorporated into the edge strip to prevent deposition of aggressive substances, then the resistance to harmful factors is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeposition of aggressive substancesVSAvoidmanufacturing process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the antimicrobial function with the base polymeric material by incorporating oligodynamically active metals during the extrusion or molding process. This integration allows the material to be manufactured in a single step without requiring subsequent coating or treatment operations, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while providing protection against harmful factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The antimicrobial protection is built into the material during its initial formation through extrusion or molding, before the edge strip is installed or used. This preliminary incorporation of oligodynamically active materials ensures protection is present from the outset without requiring additional manufacturing steps later

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If metal-releasing substances are added to provide bactericidal and fungicidal effects, then the reliability against microorganisms is improved, but the material composition becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebactericidal and fungicidal effectVSAvoidsimplicity of material composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of metal components to 0.01-10% by weight, which is sufficient to provide reliable bactericidal and fungicidal effects while maintaining the fundamental polymeric nature of the material. This parameter optimization ensures the material retains its basic characteristics while gaining antimicrobial properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The oligodynamically active metals are distributed throughout the polymeric matrix to provide localized antimicrobial action at the surface where contact with microorganisms occurs. This local concentration of active ingredients provides effective protection while keeping the overall material composition relatively simple and maintaining bulk material properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 edge strip effectively inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi, reducing cleaning costs and ensuring long-term protection against deposits in applications like kitchens and medical areas, while being cost-effective and retaining processing benefits.

Implementation Method 1

the material of the profile strip and / or the decorative element contains at least one oligodynamically acting material in an amount of 0.05 to 20% based on the total mass

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOligodynamic effect:

Implementation Method 2

the metal component is a substance that releases metal ions, which releases the metal ions through contact with, for example, a liquid, in particular when the profile strip is washed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon release:

Implementation Method 3

some of the metals contained in the zeolite are replaced by at least one type of ion-exchangeable metals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 4

the substance releasing metal ions is a salt, oxide, carbide, an organometallic and/or inorganic metal compound selected from the group of silver, gold, copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, cadmium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMetal ion release:

Data Source

PatentEP1820663B1Strip with oligodynamic material
Publication Date: 2011.04.06 REHAU AG & CO

AI summary

The strip has a core strip and a decoration element. The material of the profile strip and/or the decoration element contains an embedded oligodynamically active material at a quantity of 0.05 to 20 percent in relation to the total mass. A part of the metals contained in the zeolite and or the chelate complex by ions which are exchanged in metals is replaced, which are selected from the group silver, gold, copper, zinc, lead, arsenic and cadmium.