Silver-ion finish
Also known as: Silver-ion coating, Ag-ion treatment, Antibacterial silver finish
Technology-neutral umbrella term for antibacterial textile coatings with silver (Ag+, AgCl, nano-silver); reduces bacterial growth and odour.
Description
Silver-ion finish is the brand-neutral umbrella term for silver-based antibacterial textile coatings. Silver acts at very low concentrations (<5 ppm) against a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi and some viruses: released silver ions (Ag&sup+;) bind to sulphur-containing membrane proteins, damage the cell membrane and block DNA replication.
Technological variants:
- Silver chloride (AgCl) depot: slowly releases Ag&sup+; – basis of Polygiene Stays Fresh and Sanitized Silver
- Nano-silver: 5–100 nm particles, large surface area, very effective but ecotoxicologically controversial (EU only under strict BPR authorisation)
- Silver-coated fibres: fibre core with galvanically applied silver layer (X-Static, SilverPro) – also electrostatically conductive
- Zeolite with embedded silver (Agion): ion-exchange system with prolonged release
Advantages: odour control over multiple workouts, longer wash intervals, electrostatic dissipation as bonus. Disadvantages: performance may drop with chelating detergents (zeolites); strict regulation (EU BPR 528/2012, US EPA FIFRA). Not to be confused with purely odourless zinc or copper finishes.
Properties
| Active substance | Ag+ / AgCl / nano-Ag |
|---|---|
| Effective concentration | <5 ppm |
| Mechanism | Cell wall binding + DNA block |
| Known brands | Polygiene, Sanitized, X-Static, Agion, SilverPro |
| EU regulation | BPR 528/2012 authorisation |
| US regulation | EPA / FIFRA |
| Side effect | Electrostatic dissipation possible |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Silver nanoparticle Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_nanoparticle
