Ascend Performance Materials has introduced Acteev Protect™, a specially formulated technology to guard against the growth of mildew, fungi and other microbes which keeps textiles and non-woven fabrics fresher for longer.
Lu Zhang, Ph. D., Ascend’s vice president leading the Acteev launch said, The technology is a leap forward in protection for face masks, apparel, upholstery, air filters and more”
Acteev Protect combines zinc ion technology with polyamide-based woven, non-woven and knit fabrics. The active zinc ions are embedded into the polymer matrix, providing a long-lasting solution that does not wash away.
The polyamide fabrics are durable yet soft to the skin, and the nonwoven filtration media, efficiently keep out unwanted particles and available as nanofibers, meltblown and spunbond,
Vikram Gopal, Ph. D., Ascend’s senior vice president of technology said, “Zinc is an essential element needed for bacterial growth, so bacteria readily allows it inside the cell body. But the zinc ion outcompetes other essential elements such as manganese and magnesium and chokes their ingestion channels, without those minerals, the microbes can’t grow or reproduce.”
Other products use silver as an antimicrobial, Dr. Gopal added, but that metal comes with unwanted environmental consequences. “Silver is typically used as a finish or a coating,” he said. “That process is water-intensive, and the excess silver has to be disposed of, eventually ending up in our waterways.”
Zinc, however, is labeled Generally Regarded as Safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Additionally, the fabrics feature all the benefits of premium polyamides, which offer more comfort than polypropylene in single-use masks and allows knits and woven to be dyed, printed on and laundered. Acteev Protect stand up to 50 washes or more.
For more information, you can visit ascendmaterials.com/acteevprotect.
