Argentina. In the United States, a bactericidal paint was patented and created by an Argentine research group belonging to the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI).
Paint has properties that can be used in applications such as hospitals, homes, canteens or gyms. The process included the surface modification of the organic fillers and pigments that are implemented in the paints to add antimicrobial properties to them.
According to the CyTA agency, Mónica Pinto, head of the Technical Unit of Organic Paints and Coatings of INTI- Surface Processes commented that "for this, metals were used that act by combining with amino acids essential for the life cycle of microorganisms and that are harmless to humans. Thus, the bactericidal properties are maintained throughout the life of the coating."
The development could also be implemented in metal and wood openings, containers, taps or other elements that need this kind of protection.
In 2007, the product won the Award in the Innovative Product Category in the Innovar consortium and won second place in the sixth Technological Conference on Technological Development and Innovation, Nanotechnology area.
According to the researchers, the patent will be transferred to a well-known company in the field of paints for work and home.
