 | Colonies formed by viable bacteria after exposure to AlphaSan® (top) treated and untreated polymer (bottom) |
Is Your Tubing Protected Against Microbes? Microorganisms are living cells so small that most can only be seen with a microscope. Microbes, which are found everywhere, include bacteria, fungi and algae. The majority of microbes do not interfere with human activities. However, in some situations they can cause problems. Growth of microbes on many materials, including tubing, can lead to foul odors, discoloration and formation of mildew and slime. In the case of tubing, they can contaminate the material being transferred as well as degrade the tubing itself.
Leader in Antimicrobial Technology Tygon® Silver Antimicrobial Tubing is formulated with Silver based compound on the inner surface at the point of fluid contact, or the entire tube can be treated in cases where bacteria buildup on the OD is a concern. Custom compounding is available to produce anti-microbial versions of many of our tubing products, including Tygon®, Norprene®, Vendflow®, and Tygothane®
Features/Benefits - Reduces formation of slime and mildew
- Inhibits growth of microbes on many materials
- Can be produced in a variety of polymer types and multi-layered extrusions
- FDA registered for food contact
 | Tygon® Silver Antimicrobial Tubing decreases bacterial growth & provides added value
Typical Markets - Food and beverage
- Ice machines
- Water purification
- Water bottle straws
- Dairy
- Lab
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Adds Value Cleaning procedures, such as washing with detergent and hot water, can kill microbes, but this process can be time-consuming and costly, and does not provide residual protection against fresh contamination. The additional use of a durable and safe antimicrobial treatment is the best way to provide protection against microbial contamination. Offering your customer this enhanced protection adds value to your product.
How it Works AlphaSan®, the antimicrobial polymer compound used in Tygon® Silver, is a zirconium phosphate-based ceramic ion exchange resin containing silver. Silver is recognized as being safe for human contact and is an integral part of antimicrobial additives, which provide the following benefits:
- Inhibitory activity against a wide range of microorganisms, improving contamination control
- Consistent anti-microbial impact through silver ion exchange, not just during cleaning procedures
- Antimicrobial polymer compound is EPA FIFRA registered for contact with food and drinking water, and also FDA registered for food packaging
Applications Silver is known to be effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms that cause discoloration, odor, biofouling, and other aesthetic problems. Antimicrobial polymer compound can be added to approved materials at varying levels to impart fungistatic, bacteriostatic, and algistatic properties to the material and the end-use product. The high temperature stability and low color formation of anti-microbial polymer compounds translate to proven performance in wide variety of applications.
