The status quo and challenges of domestic and foreign antibacterial materials and their application technology industry development
Dr. Li Bizhong
Ph.D. Supervisor, Research Fellow, Institute of Physical and Chemical Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of Beijing Lofty Nano Technology Co., Ltd. Room 2407, Kefang Building, Beijing Chemical Industry Research Institute, West Gate, Tsinghua, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084
TEL: 010-62654047 (FAX), 62654497, E-mail:
1. Development of foreign antibacterial materials and their application technologies
The core component of antibacterial materials is antibacterial agent. Antimicrobial agents are highly sensitive chemical components of microorganisms such as bacteria and mold. A very small amount of antibacterial agent is added to ordinary materials to make antibacterial materials. Antimicrobial agents can be classified into organic, inorganic and natural categories.
Organic antibacterial agents include a variety of traditional antibacterial fungicides. Organic antibacterial agents have strong bactericidal power, good effect, and abundant sources, but have the disadvantages of poor toxic safety, microbial resistance, poor heat resistance, and easy migration. Natural antibacterial agents have poor heat resistance and a narrow application range. Inorganic antibacterial agents have the advantages of long-term effect and no drug resistance, especially their outstanding heat resistance (> 600-1000 oC), which has attracted much attention in the field of plastics, chemical fibers, ceramics and other materials in recent years. Inorganic antibacterial agents generally contain silver, zinc, copper and other metal ion components and inorganic carriers, such as zeolite, phosphate, hydroxyapatite, soluble glass, etc., through the slow-release effect to improve the long-term antibacterial properties. Silver ions have a strong antibacterial effect, but their chemical properties are lively, and they are easily converted into brown silver oxide or reduced to black elemental silver, which is discolored. In addition, the cost of using silver in large amounts is high.
The large-scale application of modern antibacterial materials began during the Second World War. The Germans wore military uniforms that had been treated with antibacterial finishing, reducing the bacterial infections of the wounded and reducing the number of injuries. After the 1960s, antibacterial sanitary fabrics began to be popularized in civilian products. The antibacterial agent used for antibacterial finishing is mainly to add strong antibacterial chemicals such as organotin and chlorophenol. After the mid-1980s, a variety of quaternary amine salt silane antibacterial finishing agents were developed.
In the 1980s, the development of antibacterial fibers successfully ensured the long-term effectiveness of antibacterial textiles. During the processing of synthetic fibers, specific antibacterial agents are added to the chemical raw materials to produce antibacterial fibers. The antibacterial agent may be an organic antibacterial agent or an inorganic antibacterial agent.
With the rapid development of petrochemical industry, plastic products have become an indispensable necessity in daily life. According to reports, the world's plastic output reached 135 million tons in 1997, and the annual increase is 5%. Since the 1980s, the development of antibacterial plastics and its wide application in household appliances, kitchen and toilet facilities, communications, daily necessities, automobiles, building materials, toys and other industries have made antibacterial materials enter a stage of rapid development. Among them, European and American countries are mainly used in daily necessities, toys and other terminal products. In Japan, antibacterial materials are applied in all fields, such as household appliances, daily necessities, automobiles, kitchen and toilet facilities, and communication products.
The development and application of inorganic antibacterial agents in Japan are in a leading position in the world. The market share of antimicrobial agents in several major manufacturers, such as Ishizuka Glass, Shinagawa Fuel, East Asia Synthetic, Zhongfang and Panasonic, is over 80% of the entire Japanese market. In 1999, sales of antibacterial agents reached 28 billion yen, of which inorganic antibacterial agents accounted for 6 billion yen. The price of antibacterial agents has dropped from 12,000-13,000 yen / Kg in 1994 to 7,600 yen / Kg in 1999. Japan ’s antibacterial plastics were about 35,000 tons in 1996, and reached about 74,000 tons (600 billion yen) in 1999. The per capita level is much higher than that of Europe and the United States.
Antibacterial materials in Europe and America mainly use organic antibacterial agents. Companies such as Ciba Refinery in Switzerland, Microban, Morton, Acros, ARP, Huels, Ferro, Troy and others in the United States. But recently companies such as Ciba and Dupont have also introduced inorganic antibacterial agents.
The application of antibacterial materials in sanitary ceramics, paints, and paints is a new field. Japanese companies such as TOTO and INAX have launched antimicrobial products in sanitary ware and overall toilets.
It is speculated that if the antibacterial agent used in Japan is 100, it is 1 in Europe and America, and only 0.1-1 in China. Japan established the Antimicrobial Product Technology Agreement as early as 1993, with more than 250 corporate members including the development, production and users of antimicrobial agents and antimicrobial plastics. According to the prediction of Japan, the capacity of the international antibacterial products market in Europe and America will be 10 times that of its domestic market in the future.
2. Development and application of antibacterial materials industry in China
Scientists in China began tracking research on antibacterial agents and antibacterial and antifungal materials more than ten years ago, such as inorganic antibacterial agents studied by Northwest Nonferrous Metal Research Institute, Kunming Institute of Precious Metals, etc. The organic antibacterial and antifungal agent developed by the Institute, etc., and a few companies, such as Anshan Yuyuan Antibacterial Agent Co., Ltd. However, due to the low research conditions and the starting point of investment, it has not been possible to form its own research and development system for a long time, and the sporadic research results are far behind the international level. On the other hand, China's economy has been lagging far behind that of Western developed countries for a long time, and people's living standards are not high, so the market for antibacterial materials has developed slowly. Until the late 1990s, in addition to some applications in paint anti-corrosion, the application of antibacterial materials remained almost a blank field.
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