April 11, 2025 – In the application realm of rubber and plastic materials, a highly significant type of functional additive is quietly playing a crucial role. This is the antibacterial agent for rubber and plastic. The primary function of this additive is to inhibit or kill microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and molds on the surface of plastic, rubber, and other materials. Its mechanism of action lies in disrupting the cell structure of microorganisms or interfering with their metabolic processes, thereby effectively reducing the number of colonies on the material surface. By adding a trace amount, usually in the proportion of 0.5% – 2%, to the rubber and plastic base materials, it can achieve multiple effects such as extending the product service life, reducing the risk of cross – contamination, and enhancing product safety, without affecting the physical properties and processing technology of the materials themselves.
The application scope of antibacterial agents for rubber and plastic is extremely extensive. In the field of medical equipment, for products like catheters and surgical instruments, the use of antibacterial agents can significantly reduce the risk of nosocomial infections. In the aspect of home appliances and electronic products, items such as refrigerator liners and mobile phone casings with added antibacterial agents have greatly improved their hygiene performance. For example, the antibacterial home appliances launched by Haier have attracted much attention. In the food packaging field, antibacterial plastic containers can effectively inhibit the growth of bacteria and extend the shelf life of food. In the realm of construction and daily necessities, the emergence of antibacterial floors, toys, and other products has greatly reduced microbial contamination in public areas.
According to AsiaMB, based on different active ingredients, antibacterial agents for rubber and plastic can be mainly divided into four categories. Inorganic antibacterial agents take metal ions such as silver, zinc, and copper as the core components and use carriers such as zeolites, phosphates, and nano – titanium dioxide to slowly release the active ingredients. Among them, silver – based antibacterial agents are the most widely used. Silver ions can penetrate the cell walls of microorganisms and damage their DNA structure, with a wide antibacterial range and long – lasting effect. Organic antibacterial agents include quaternary ammonium salts, phenolic derivatives, etc. It achieves the purpose of sterilization by interfering with the metabolism of microorganisms. However, it has disadvantages such as poor heat resistance, easy volatilization, and potential toxicity. Natural antibacterial agents are extracted from plant essential oils, such as tea tree oil, allicin, or natural substances like chitin. They have outstanding environmental protection performance. However, they are insufficient in heat resistance and durability and are mostly used in scenarios with relatively low antibacterial requirements, such as food – contact materials. Composite antibacterial agents combine inorganic, organic, or natural components, using the synergistic effect between them to improve antibacterial efficiency and reduce side effects. Currently, it has become the key research and development direction for the future.