Some “super plastic” additives are intended to protect human health and well-being. Others are designed to protect the environment by making the plastic biodegrade.
Symphony Environmental has developed a suite of low-cost super plastics for protecting human health, under the brand name d2p (designed to protect).
Antimicrobial
The current coronavirus crisis and the increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics reminds us to be careful when it comes to bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Viruses can survive on plastics for up to nine days at room temperature and some infectious agents survive in hospitals for 46 months.
All plastic items that people touch can be sources of infection and should be made lethal to microbes.
Symphony Environmental has developed a system for embedding the anti-microbial agent into the plastic product itself at the time of manufacture, so that it will be effective for the lifetime of the product. This is much better than spraying or wiping, as it will not wear off.
The technology has already been tested against bacteria and fungi, and tests have been urgently initiated against members of the coronavirus group. Tests will be run on COVID-19 itself as soon as a specimen becomes available.
Most plastics, including coatings, could be upgraded with d2 p®.
Anything from shopping bags, packaging, door handles, telephones, worktops, keyboards, doorbells, credit cards, plastic banknotes, chip and pin devices, toothbrushes, gloves, shoe covers, mattresses, curtains, face masks, aprons, hospital gowns, medical equipment, syringes, cannulas and water pipes can be upgraded with antimicrobial additives.
Symphony’s antimicrobial d2p® (am) 97000 additives is
- approved by the US Food & Drugs Administration for use in bread packaging
- registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency for a variety of uses as an antimicrobial additive in plastic materials.listed under Art. 95 of the EU’s Biocidal Products Regulation (528/2012) in PT 2, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 21
- successfully tested according to ISO 22196-07 and ASTM D7907-14 (bacteria); ASTM G21-90 (fungi), and ASTM D5589-09 (algae).
Drinking Water Pipes
The growth of harmful microorganisms inside plastic drinking-water pipes and tanks, and inside the plastic ducting of air-conditioning systems is a real problem.
Plastic pipes are the backbone of water distribution in home, hospital, food industry factory, school, office etc.
The expected life of plastic water pipes and ducting is more than 50 years.
Water in pipes is not sterile, regardless of the extent to which the water is treated.
Microbes inside the distribution pipes will multiply and produce a biofilm.
Biofilms develop in all drinking water pipes and tanks despite the water treatment.
Biofilm poses a threat by hosting many pathogenic and toxin-producing microorganisms.
Every year million of people die as a result of water-borne diseases, making it the leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the world.
Symphony Environmental has developed durable and eco-friendly antibacterial agents aimed specifically at protecting plastic drinking-water pipes and air-ducting, and has NSF 61 certification for water pipes following extensive testing.
Antimicrobial Bread Packaging
Bakery products like many processed foods are subject to physical, chemical and microbiological spoilage.
Symphony’s d2p antimicrobial bread packaging is a plastic technology making bread packaging lethal to harmful bacteria, so as to reduce contamination of the bread from its packaging.
In February 2020 Symphony secured FDA approval in the USA for its anti-bacterial bread packaging.
It has been successfully tested against Staphylococcus Aureus, E. coli and other strains of harmful bacteria.
d2p antibacterial bread packaging has an Effective Kill Rate greater than: 99.999%
Anti Insects
Mosquitoes and flies spread diseases.
Plastic has proved very useful in protecting people from insects.
Symphony’s Insecticidal plastic masterbatches have been designed to be incorporated into mosquito nets, plastic worktops, wall and ceiling liners, and other surfaces.
d2p ai (anti-insect) additives can also be added to agricultural films and bags, like banana bags, to prevent insects from damaging crops.
d2p ai (anti-insect) additive has most recently been used to great effect to prevent insects puncturing agricultural irrigation pipes. It ensures life long protection making them last longer, and reducing wastage of water.
Food Protection
Food packaging made with d2p Ethylene Adsorber can sequester ethylene inside the packaging, delay food deterioration, regulate moisture to slow the drying process, extend shelf life and conserve the nutritional qualities, crispness and flavour of the product.
The d2p Oxygen Scavenger is also important in food packaging, as oxygen is another reason for food decaying inside packaging.
Rats and Mice
Rodents can wreak havoc in electrical systems if they chew the coatings and expose wires.
Exposed wires can cause fire or electrocution.
Plastic sheathing with d2p technology ensures that rodents are repelled from electrical cables.
Biodegradable Plastics
Symphony has developed d2w mulching film for food-growers that biodegrades after use (so does not need to be removed from the fields and disposed of).
This can also be supplied with anti-insect and anti-microbial properties.
d2w technology can also be used for plastic shopping bags and other plastic packaging, to ensure that they will not lie or float around for decades.
For more information see www.d2p.net and http://www.d2w.net
info@symphonyenvironmental.com