Simple Methods To Incorporate Silver And Copper Generate Antimicrobial Glasses And Porous Glass-Bonded Ceramics

Silver and copper ions are well-established anti-microbial agents that combat bacteria, viruses, fungi and algae. Recently, Corning researchers discussed the importance of microbial suppression for glass-based touch surfaces on smart phones, ATMs etc. They demonstrated that silver "bullets" can be ion exchanged into borosilicate glass, resulting in surfaces that effectively control growth of Escherichia coli bacteria. This article describes how simple and flexible techniques show promise for incorporating silver and copper into glass and glass-bonded ceramic materials for novel anti-microbial products.