The concept of "antibacterial" has been mentioned in China for many years. Nowadays, the products with the words "antibacterial, bactericidal and antibacterial" have been spread all over us: from refrigerators to air conditioners, to the various pens we use, and for home cooking. The seasoning box, even the socks and underwear we wear every day... For a time, "antibacterial, bactericidal, antibacterial" is ubiquitous. Seeing that the anti-bacterial business opportunities are infinite, can the manufacturers of laminate flooring be able to sit still? Therefore, silver ion antibacterial, photocatalyst antibacterial, nano antibacterial, and overwhelming antibacterial concept were introduced by the laminate flooring manufacturers.

Antibacterial floor antibacterial

Antibacterial floor is to add a certain amount of antibacterial agent to the wear layer on the surface of the floor. After processing, it can inhibit the growth of surface bacteria and achieve antibacterial purpose. There are two popular antibacterial floorings on the market: one is silver ion antibacterial technology, which adds silver ions that are safe to human body to certain nanoscale materials and then added to the surface of the floor. In the wear-resistant layer, with the use of the floor, silver ions are slowly released and contact reaction and photocatalytic reaction with bacteria in the air, thereby destroying the bacteria to cause death. The other is photocatalytic antibacterial technology. The main component of photocatalyst is nano-sized titanium dioxide, which is in a high-energy state by absorbing ultraviolet light, and transmits high energy to the reactants to cause chemical reaction to suppress floating in the air. The purpose of bacteria, mold, dust mites. In addition, there is a composite silver ion antibacterial technology, in addition to nano antibacterial or four-needle zinc oxide whisker antibacterial technology.

Antibacterial does not equal sterilization

Antibacterial is so magical, is it really killing bacteria on the floor or even the air like some floor companies claim? The reporter interviewed the Antibacterial Materials Testing Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on this issue. Shi Weiming, director of the testing center, said: "Antibacterial does not mean sterilization. Consumers should not confuse antibacterial and bactericidal. Currently, antibacterial laminates on the market add antibacterial agents to the substrate, but no matter what kind of antibacterial agent is used, Can not kill bacteria in the air. Antibacterial floor can only inhibit the bacteria on the floor surface."

Antibacterial is a double-edged sword

In the face of the antibacterial concept boom, experts are extremely calm. "Antibacterial flooring is definitely a trend in the future development of the flooring industry, but for now, there are still many technical problems to be solved, especially the safety of antibacterial."

Experts believe that: "Many companies now claim that the product uses nano-materials, and when the particles of the material reach the nano-scale, the penetration ability is particularly strong, and can easily penetrate the cell membrane and the blood-brain barrier (the barrier of the cell membrane to the particles) Role), enter the cell, destroy the original tissue and nucleus, thereby destroying cell life or generating genetic mutations."

The problem is here. Experts say that nano-scale fungicides are medically called "non-specific fungicides", which means that it is "all-in-one" when it destroys cells. In addition to bacterial cells, it can also enter the body unimpeded. cell. This is called nanoparticle toxicity. Many antibacterial floors achieve the efficacy of killing bacteria by continuously releasing nanoparticles.

It is inferred that nanoparticles have at least potential harm to the human body. So, how big is this hazard? Can the nanoparticles be selective to avoid damage to human cells? In fact, the nano world is still an unknown world for human beings, and many of its properties are still under discussion.

The key to the problem now is, for a healthy, qualified antibacterial floor, what amount of nano-sized particles should be released so as not to cause harm to the human body? This safety-grade release standard for nanoparticles is a primary issue to be addressed to experts for research and testing.

Many consumers are more interested in antibacterial flooring. Especially for families with old people and children at home, they have a special liking for antibacterial flooring. Antibacterial flooring can inhibit the bacteria on the surface of the floor, which is undoubted, but it does not eliminate all the bacteria in the room, as some manufacturers have proclaimed.

Glossary

Sterilization: Kill all propagules and spores of all microorganisms on the object, called sterilization. There are many sterilization methods, mainly physical and chemical. There are many high-temperature and high-pressure sterilization methods and chemical sterilization methods.

Disinfection: A method that only kills common pathogenic microorganisms is called disinfection.

Sterilization: The role of killing microbial vegetatives and propagules is called sterilization.

Bacteriostatic: The role of preventing or inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms is called bacteriostatic. The drugs used for bacteriostatic are called bacteriostatic agents or preservatives.

Antibacterial: Antibacterial and bactericidal effects are collectively referred to as antibacterial.