Antimicrobial and/or antiviral polymer surfaces

A method for preparation of a polymer material having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties comprising:

• a) providing a polymer substrate having a surface;
• b) generating a plasma under near atmospheric conditions by passing a carrier gas through an excitation zone and by applying high frequency alternating current to an electrode positioned in the excitation zone to produce a discharge thereby generating an atmospheric plasma;
• c) generating a precursor material aerosol in a separate zone by using an atomiser gas or providing a gaseous precursor material, wherein the precursor material is a compound capable of forming radicals when in contact with an atmospheric plasma and which comprises at least one amine function;
• d) treating at least a part of the polymer substrate surface provided according to (a) with the atmospheric plasma generated according to (b) and the precursor material aerosol generated according to (c) or the gaseous precursor material provided according to (c) thereby depositing a reaction product of the precursor material at least on a part of the polymer substrate surface.

A polymer having improved antibacterial properties and/or antiviral properties obtained or obtainable by a method comprising:

• a) providing a polymer substrate having a surface;
• b) generating a plasma under atmospheric conditions by passing a carrier gas through an excitation zone and by applying high frequency alternating current to an electrode positioned in the excitation zone to produce a dielectrical barrier discharge thereby generating an atmospheric plasma;
• c) generating a precursor material aerosol in a separate zone or providing a gaseous pre-cursor material, wherein the precursor material is a compound capable of forming radicals when in contact with an atmospheric plasma;
• d) treating at least a part of the polymer substrate surface provided according to (a) with the atmospheric plasma generated according to (b) and the precursor material aerosol generated according to (c) or the gaseous precursor material provided according to (c) thereby depositing a reaction product of the precursor material at least on a part of the polymer substrate surface.