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Email: info@addmaster.co.uk

Why Silver?

Silver is an element found naturally in the environment. Since ancient times, silver has been highly regarded as a versatile healing tool.

The microbiocidal properties of Silver are most effective at minute concentrations.

Silver ions interact with a wide range of molecular processes within microorganisms resulting in a range of effects from inhibition of growth and loss of infectivity, to cell death, thereby accounting for the high efficacy of Biomaster as an Antimicrobial & antimicrobial agent.

Silver provides a durable, non-leachable antimicrobial & antimicrobial treatment and the Ionic Silver is not prone to causing resistant bacterial strains.

There is also evidence dating back to the 1920s showing that Silver ions possess antiviral properties. If you would like to discuss the antiviral claims that can be made using Biomaster silver based additives please contact our technical team.

Longevity of Biomaster

To explain why Biomaster silver based additives have such a long-term efficacy it is necessary to refer to the work of Avogadro (1776 - 1856). He carried out a programme of work which resulted in "Avogadro's number".

This number can be used to calculate the concentration of Silver ions. For example if Biomaster TD100 was added to a polymer at 0.1% addition level this would give the following number of Silver ions available in 1kg of polymer:

836,000,000,000,000,000,000

Although Biomaster Antimicrobial & antimicrobial contain high levels of Silver, they release Silver ions at a very low, controlled rate.

This low release rate is dependent upon the bacterial challenge present which ensures that they retain their efficacy for the lifetime of the products in which they are used. Continued efficacy has been proven in textiles treated with Biomaster silver based additives after 100 boil washes, as well as in articles which have undergone simulated 20 year use testing.

Leach rates for Silver from Biomaster treated textiles are so low that they have gained approval and are being used in Class 1 medical devices (The Medical Devices Regulations 2002).