Antimicrobial coating for identification devices

An identification device comprising:

• a face stock;
• a thermal chemical imaging layer applied adjacent at least a portion of at least one surface of the face stock;
• a protective layer positioned adjacent at least a portion of the thermal chemical imaging layer such that the thermal chemical imaging layer is positioned between the face stock and the protective layer;
• and
• an ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer positioned adjacent at least a portion of the protective layer such that the protective layer is positioned between the thermal chemical imaging layer and the antimicrobial layer, wherein the protective layer and the antimicrobial layer are configured to enable direct thermal printing onto the thermal chemical imaging layer through the antimicrobial layer and the protective layer.

A method of constructing an identification device comprising:

• providing a face stock;
• positioning a protective coating adjacent to at least a portion of at least one surface of the face stock;
• and
• applying a water-based antimicrobial varnish layer receptive to a thermal transfer printing process adjacent at least a portion of the protective coating such that the protective coating is positioned between the face stock and the antimicrobial varnish layer, the antimicrobial varnish layer comprising an agent such that upon exposure of the device to moisture at least a portion of the agent is released to maintain an antimicrobial property of the antimicrobial varnish layer.

A method of constructing an identification device comprising:

• providing a face stock;
• applying a thermal chemical imaging layer adjacent at least one surface of at least a portion of the face stock;
• positioning a protective layer adjacent at least a portion of the thermal chemical imaging layer such that the thermal chemical imaging layer is positioned between the face stock and the protective layer;
• and
• positioning an ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer adjacent at least a portion of the protective layer such that the protective layer is positioned between the thermal chemical imaging layer and the antimicrobial layer, wherein the ultraviolet curable antimicrobial layer and the protective layer are configured to enable direct thermal printing onto the thermal chemical imaging layer through the antimicrobial layer and the protective layer.