Deposition of silver layer on nonconducting substrate

• US 6,224,983 B1
• Filed: 08/13/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bactiguard AB (Bactiguard Holding AB)
• Original Assignee: AD Tech Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Sodervall, Billy Valter, Lundeberg, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbot, Brian K.
• Application Number:
  US09/374,709
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 427/304, 427/305, 427/306, 427/437, 427/443.1, 604/265, 604/328, 604/905, 428/624, 428/625, 428/626, 428/670, 428/672, 428/461, 428/465
• US Class Current: 428/461
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/18 containing inorganic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/46 Deodorants or malodour counteractants, e.g. to inhibit the formation of ammonia or bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/102 Metals or metal compounds, e.g. salts such as bicarbonates, carbonates, oxides, zeolites, silicates
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/104 Silver, e.g. silver sulfadiazine
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/45 Mixtures of two or more drugs, e.g. synergistic mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/452 Lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/606 Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/608 having two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/61 containing two or more active agents in different layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/802 Additives, excipients, e.g. cyclodextrins, fatty acids, surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/106 Inorganic materials other than carbon
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L29/048 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/088 Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L31/084 or A61L31/086
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/285 Sensitising or activating with tin based compound or composition
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/44 using reducing agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12556 Organic component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12562 Elastomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12569 : Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12875 : Platinum group metal-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12889 : Au-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12896 : Ag-base component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 : Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31707 : Next to natural rubber

Abstract

Metallic silver is deposited upon the surface of a nonconducting substrate using a multi-step wet deposition process. The surface is cleaned, and then activated in an aqueous solution containing stannous tin. The silver is deposited as a colloidal material from an aqueous solution of a silver-containing salt, a reduction agent that reduces the salt to form the metallic silver, and a deposition control agent that prevents the silver from nucleating throughout the solution. After the substrate is coated, the coating is stabilized in an aqueous solution of a salt of a metal from the platinum group or gold, dissolved in dilute hydrochloric acid. The process is particularly effective for depositing uniform-films of 2 to 2000 Angstroms thickness, which strongly adhere to the substrate.

Claims

1. An article that resists microbial growth prepared by a method which comprises

(a) activating at least a portion of the surface area of an article which article is constructed of a nonconducting material selected from the group consisting of latex, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, ABS polymers, polycarbonate, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide and synthetic rubber;

followed by

(b) chemically depositing a silver layer of 2-2000 Å

by treating said activated surface with an aqueous solution of at least one salt of silver in the presence of a deposition control agent, said depositing being conducted for only sufficient time to result in said 2-2000 Å

silver layer; and

(c) rinsing in demineralized water and drying.

2. The article of claim 1 which is further coated with a hydrogel layer.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein said coating is transparent to the human eye.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-350 Å

.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-50 Å

.

9. The article of claim 4 wherein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-350 Å

.

10. The article of claim 9 wherein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-50 Å

.

6. An article that resists microbial growth which is constructed of a nonconducting substrate selected from the group consisting of latex, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, ABS polymers, polycarbonate, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide and synthetic rubber, wherein said nonconducting substrate is activated over at least a portion of its surface and said activated portion is coated with a coating comprising an adhesive layer of silver

wherein said silver layer is 2-2000 Å

in thickness and is in colloidal form.

7. The article of claim 6 which is further coated with a hydrogel layer.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein said coating is transparent to the human eye.

11. An article that resists microbial growth which is constructed of a nonconducting substrate, wherein said nonconducting substrate is coated over at least a portion of its surface area with an adhesive, antimicrobial, biocompatible coating comprising a layer of silver that has been stabilized by exposure to a solution containing the salt of one or more platinum group metals or gold or a combination thereof,

wherein said silver layer is 2-2000 Å

in thickness and is in colloidal form.

12. The article of claim 11 which is further coated with a hydrogel layer.

13. The article of claim 11 wherein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-350 Å

.

14. The article of claim 13 herein the thickness of the silver layer is 2-50 Å

.

15. The article of claim 11 wherein said nonconducting substrate is selected from the group consisting of latex, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, ABS polymers, polycarbonate, polyamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide and synthetic rubber.

16. The article of claim 15 wherein the nonconducting substrate is latex.

17. The article of claim 16 wherein the platinum group metal is selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium.

18. The article of claim 17 wherein said platinum group metal is palladium.