Silver_it

The thin silver layer on any surface is harmful for viruses.

Comment 3

Inspiration:

During epidemy it is necessity to constant clean and disinfect surfaces that many people come in contact with. These include: tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. It is impossible to completely avoid touching high-contact surfaces in public. During the COVID-19 epidemy due to World Health Organization the constant cleaning and disinfection of surfaces that many people come in contact with is necessary. The surfaces taken especially into consideration are: tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. [1]. It is impossible to avoid touching high-contact surfaces in public. Some surfaces should be not cleaned with hazardous and liquid disinfectants, especially electrical and electronic devices (switches, buttons in the lifts, light switches, keyboards etc.). [2] COVID-19 as similar viruses is resistant to many disinfection technics, it can survive longer on smooth surfaces. Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel, less than 24 hours on cardboard and less than 4 hours on copper. [1].

Solution:

SILVER – • Silver substances have been under review as active substances for use in disinfectants and preservatives for materials. Silver substances are safe and benefit our health, accepted by the European Policy and EU(BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012) • Metallic silver is an antibacterial agent. Silver and most silver compounds are toxic for bacteria (also antibiotic-resistant bacteria), fungi and viruses. It has been shown that AgNPs have got anti-HIV-1, and anti-Hepatitis-B-Virus activity. This metal oligo dynamic effect and toxicity occurs even in low concentrations. • There are no search on COVID-19 resistivity to silver, but according to the literature [1] we may expect that the COVID-19 virus should be less resistive to silver than to copper. • During 2007 – 2017 more than 80 patents were dedicated to silver application in medicine, building materials and products. (such as: “Ready to use medical grade products and medically related products containing silver as an antimicrobial agent”, “Use of silver-containing layers at implant surfaces”, “Antimicrobial coatings on building surfaces”,” Submersible keyboard. A waterproof and washable keyboard with key caps made from plastic embedded with silver ions”, “Silver coated nylon fibers and associated methods of manufacture and use.”, “An antimicrobial food package.”). They might be applicable for solving the problems. [5,6,7,8,9,10] • Silver for reducing microbial contamination should be paint or roll not spray on the surface. It is even more efficient at a smooth and wet surface [11] • Today, Europe still produces 17% of new silver in the world and recycles 37% of the world’s silver. EU institution promotes silver as wide applicable material (European Precious Metal Federation, ) [12, 13]. Companies have potential to produce silver even at the higher demand (17% of the global market covers Polish company KGHM,) [14]. • There is some offer of paintings contain silver (Caparol designed a paint including silver particles for use in hospitals, ALEXIT FST BioProtect, silver paints are offered for electrical and electronics purpose Technicqll, Electon).

How I built it:

Light switch surfaces, keys, keyboards can be painted with silver paint. For prototyping we used silver glue - (available in any shop with electronics).

Challenges I ran into:

Minimize COVID-19 contamination at high-contact surfaces in public. • reduce contamination and COVID spread (high-contact surfaces in public might be painted with silver). • Make alternative for the liquid or hazardous disinfectant - especially to clean electrical equipment, medical equipment (keys, keyboards and buttons). • Engage European economic and material resources (EU is a silver producer)

Accomplishments that I'm proud of:

Solution is easy, fast, rather cheap.

What's next for Silver_it:

• Natural disinfecting coating/ painting might replace toxic or hazardous liquid disinfectant in many applications. • Silver paint or thin layer may be used in: new projects for electrical equipment (light switches, phones). There will be demand for new products and design. • As the industry develops, it will increase the number of jobs. Silver is an European raw material. Europe is not dependent on its import and fluctuations in its prices. • Essential is the promotion of the idea. Information campaign must be prepared to make this type of disinfectant more common. • The promotion of the possible application of silver during COVID crisis and post-epidemic-phase should be done by EU authorities and organizations (European Precious Metals Federation, Precious Metals and Rhenium Consortium etc.) • The demand of wider application of silver as painting material needs international collaboration of silver produces, paint producer. • Future work and research. The universities (UAS Tarnow, and partner universities - AGH Krakow, Trieste University, others) the research institute (Non Ferrous Metals Institute, KGHM research institute, others), company (KGHM) should work on the paint, best technics of its application, paint efficiency improvement.

Built With

  • layers
  • nanoparticles
  • paint
  • silver
  • thin
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