Methodology for coating non-conducting articles with broad-spectrum antimicrobial electroless plating layers
OwnerPrerna Goradiainventor
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Abstract
A method of coating an antimicrobial conductive metal layer on a non-conductive surface of articles with novel chemistry and methods with just a few process steps consisting of contacting the chemistries at room temperature for short durations is disclosed. The methodology is environmentally friendly, non-toxic aqueous bath of different salt compositions for providing uniform anti-microbial metal coating on the articles. The cost-effective methodology can be used on a wide variety of non-conductive surfaces such as glass, fibers, textiles, ceramic, plastic, foam and so on.
Claims19
A method for electroless coating a non-conductive article, the method comprising:
- providing the non-conductive article;
- applying a reducing bath to the article for 1-3 minutes, wherein the bath includes reducing agents 1-5% wt and a pH maintaining buffer 0-1% wt in water, wherein the reducing agent includes stannous chloride;
- water rinsing the article;
- activating the rinsed article by applying an aqueous activating bath to the article for 1-3 minutes, wherein the aqueous activating bath includes silver 0.1-5% wt, a chelating agent 1-10% wt, and a pH maintaining agent in water to form a film coating of 1-10 micron thickness on the rinsed article;
- water rinsing and drying the activated article, wherein the reducing bath, the aqueous activating bath, and the water of the rinsings are at room temperature;
- and
- treating the activated article with an antimicrobial coating containing antimicrobial metal by dipping the article in an antimicrobial bath including complexed and stabilized 1-50 g/liter CuSO4 and 0.1-5% wt formaldehyde in water, and wherein a pH of the antimicrobial bath is 8-10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.