Non-Eluting Antimicrobial Glass Composition for Water-Contact Parts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antimicrobial glass compositions fail to provide long-lasting antimicrobial activity, especially in water contact, and are not environmentally friendly, with organic agents posing health risks and inorganic agents being costly and limited in application.
Innovation Solution
A glass composition with controlled components and ratios, incorporating Zn and Sn ions for network formation, ensuring water resistance and positive surface charge to attract and kill germs, using 15-40% SiO2, 4-20% B2O3 and P2O5, 8-20% Na2O and K2O, 3-15% CaO, MgO, and WO3, and 34-60% ZnO and SnO, with optional Ag2O, Ag3PO4, and AgNO3.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an organic antimicrobial agent is used, then excellent antimicrobial performance is achieved, but durability deteriorates and harm to human body and environment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using inorganic antimicrobial agents (silver, zinc, tin ions) instead of organic agents, achieving both durability and environmental safety. The specific composition ratios (SiO2: 30-70 wt%, B2O3: 5-30 wt%, Ag2O: 0.01-5 wt%, ZnO: 0.1-10 wt%, SnO2: 0.1-10 wt%) are optimized to ensure long-term antimicrobial activity without elution of harmful substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite glass material combining multiple inorganic components (SiO2, B2O3, Ag2O, ZnO, SnO2) that work synergistically. The glass matrix provides structural stability while the metallic oxides provide antimicrobial activity, resulting in a material that is both durable and environmentally friendly.
2Temperature
If an inorganic antimicrobial agent is used, then high-temperature durability is ensured, but cost increases and wettability on plastic injection mold interface deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the composition parameters to balance high-temperature durability and manufacturability. By controlling the content of metallic oxides (Ag2O: 0.01-5 wt%, ZnO: 0.1-10 wt%, SnO2: 0.1-10 wt%) within specific ranges and combining them with glass formers (SiO2: 30-70 wt%, B2O3: 5-30 wt%), the material achieves both thermal stability and adequate wettability for injection molding.
3Reliability
If existing elutable antimicrobial glass is used, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but the performance does not last long and reliability for water contact is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the elution mechanism from the system by creating a non-elutable antimicrobial glass. Instead of relying on ion elution for antimicrobial activity, the invention incorporates antimicrobial metal ions directly into the glass network structure, eliminating the need for elution and providing permanent antimicrobial protection even in water contact environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite glass structure where antimicrobial metal ions (Ag+, Zn2+, Sn4+) are integrated into the glass network through specific compositional ratios. This composite structure provides both the mechanical properties of glass and the permanent antimicrobial activity of metal ions without elution.
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 composition achieves permanent antimicrobial activity without elution, effective against germs and fungi, even in water contact, and is durable and environmentally safe, suitable for household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
Zn and Sn ions as a component showing antimicrobial performance participate in a network-forming structure, to form a strong glass structure that is not eluted in water
Implementation Method 2
charge on the surface of glass is controlled such that a glass component is not eluted in water and exhibits antimicrobial properties
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an antimicrobial glass composition, a method for preparing antimicrobial glass powder thereof, and a household electrical appliance comprising same, the antimicrobial glass composition securing antimicrobial activity and water resistance at the same time by controlling Zn and Sn ions, which are eluted to implement antimicrobial functions, to achieve network formation by using the content ratio of a modifying oxide and a network-forming oxide. As a result, since the antimicrobial glass composition, the method for preparing antimicrobial glass powder thereof, and the household electrical appliance comprising same, according to the present invention, use an antimicrobial agent having non-elusion properties, this exhibits a remarkable effect in preventing contamination with bacterial, mold, or the like when used as a coating agent in a component group that is in contact with drinking water.