Polymer Structure Comprising Base Plastic With Hydration Layer For Avoiding Biofilm Formation Thereon

Abstract

Provided is a germ-repellent polymer structure including a base plastic selected from polypropylene homopolymer, polypropylene impact copolymer, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; and a hydration layer, the hydration layer including one or more hydrophilic additives formed on the base plastic optionally in the presence of an intermediate plastic that is compatible to both the base plastic and hydrophilic additives for stabilizing the hydration layer on some base plastics. In some embodiment, the introduction of hydration layer to the base plastic through the intermediate plastic imparts germ repellency by introducing sufficient hydroxyl groups onto the surface of the base plastic in order to trap water molecules into a polymer matrix of the base plastic. The change in mechanical strength of the base plastic before and after the introduction of the hydration layer is less than 20% of an original mechanical strength, where the original mechanical strength corresponds to a strength of the base plastic before formation of the hydration layer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.