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After 30 minutes in contact with the coated fabric, the virus completely disappears, leaving no trace on the textile. | Photo source Xefco
Antimicrobial textile coating destroys COVID-19 in five minutes
All traces of the virus are gone from fabrics within 30 minutes
Spotted: Australian materials technology company Xefco recently partnered with industrial manufacturer PPK to create Survivon Ltd, a new joint venture company dedicated to producing face masks and other textiles coated in MetalliX™. MetalliX™ is a patent-pending process for applying almost pure copper in extremely thin layers to a range of fabrics. Xefco collaborated with Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials on the creation of the coating.
Developed during the pandemic, MetalliX™ deactivates the coronavirus within 15 minutes of coming into contact with the microbes. More than 97 per cent of the virus is deactivated within the first five minutes, and within 15 minutes, more than 99 per cent of the virus is no longer active.
After 30 minutes in contact with the coated fabric, the virus completely disappears, leaving no trace on the textile. Application of the coating does not interfere with the weight, feel and flexibility of fabrics. It can also be used to treat fabrics that are typically untreatable due to various finishing processes. This includes PPE, air filters and a variety of face masks.
The company plans to begin distribution in Australia, followed by Europe and then the rest of the world.
Other recent antimicrobial innovations spotted by Springwise include a bandage that glows when a wound gets infected and a 3D printed biomaterial that could be used for catheters and cartilage replacements.
Written by: Keely Khoury
Explore more: Science and Environment
From coated steel to paints, textiles and high-touch surfaces, such as countertops and doorknobs, antimicrobial materials are in demand. With experts predicting an annual global market growth in antimicrobial coatings of more than 13 per cent between 2021 and 2028, chances are that most of us will benefit from advancements in this sector. Healthcare is leading the field in development, with anti-microbial coated surgical implant devices helping prevent a number of infections. As surgeries become less invasive and take less time to recover from, a variety of common procedures related to ageing may become easier to manage and less likely to negatively impact our quality of life.
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