Thermoplastic elastomers containing antimicrobial and antiviral additives for mobility applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Antimicrobial Technology

Background:

• SARS-CoV-2 transmits via droplets and surface contamination.
• Need for durable, effective antimicrobial materials for high-touch surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a novel, durable, and effective antimicrobial (antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal) styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Main Methods:

• Incorporated six different formulations of TPE with antimicrobial agents: zinc pyrithione (ZnPT), sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB), disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT), and chlorhexidine (CHX).
• Investigated mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus) and antiviral performance.
• Evaluated microbial reduction and viral deactivation on TPE samples.

Main Results:

• ZnPT and DOT incorporated TPE reduced bacteria by up to 99.99% and deactivated Adenovirus, Poliovirus, Norovirus, and a coronavirus strain by 99.95% within 60 minutes.
• Tensile strength decreased by 14-27% and elongation at break by 7-12% with ZnPT and DOT combinations.
• ZnPT and NaB combination showed the lowest melt flow index (MFI), decreasing it by 33%.

Conclusions:

• TPE samples with ZnPT and DOT exhibit significant biocidal activity.
• These antimicrobial TPEs are suitable for developing products for multiple touchpoints in vehicles and micro-mobility applications.