Method for preparing non-electrically conductive antimicrobial articles

Abstract

A non-electrically antimicrobial conductive article can be prepared by: A) providing a non-electrically conductive substrate with first and second opposing surfaces; B) disposing a pattern of a catalytic ink, having unconnected features, on the first opposing surface of the non-electrically conductive substrate, and drying, curing, or drying and curing the pattern of catalytic ink to form an intermediate article; C) electrolessly plating copper metal in registration with the pattern of catalytic ink, to provide a pattern of unconnected copper metal features in registration with the pattern of catalytic ink, to form the non-electrically conductive antimicrobial article, and D) optionally passivating the pattern having unconnected copper metal features. The prepared antimicrobial article can provide antimicrobial properties when applied to various surfaces that are frequently touched, to inhibit or reduce the transmission of various microorganisms from one person to another.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.