Sanitary Ware with Easy Cleaning and/or Antibacterial Properties
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T. Agné
Abstract
When the sanitary ware (ceramicplus) was launched it was one of the first product in consumer market that offered a surface based on nanotechnology. (ceramicplus) is a ceramic material that is modified by sol-gel methods, the so called wet-chemical nanotechnology thus creating a material of very low surface energy which results in a particularly dirt-repellent and easy-care surface. A further innovative surface is called (activecare). This ceramic glaze contains small quantities of antibacterial silver ions which prevent the build-up of bacteria and ensures hygienic cleanliness. Independent tests by renowned research institutes have verified the properties and long-term effect of (ceramicplus) and (activecare). Because of its water- and dirt-repellent properties (ceramicplus) requires minimum care without influencing the established good properties typical of ceramic materials. The roughness and hardness of ceramicplus is not significantly different from those of conventional ceramic glaze for sanitary ware. Scrubbing tests have proven that only the long-run use of highly abrasive cleaning agents – like scouring powder – may scratch the surface and impair the properties of (ceramicplus) as well as conventional ceramics. Thanks to the easy-care properties of these functionally modified ceramic surfaces such aggressive cleaning agents are not required for cleanliness.
Kurzfassung
Zum Zeitpunkt der Markteinführung der Sanitärkeramik „ceramicplus“ war diese eines der ersten Produkte im Endverbrauchermarkt, welche eine funktionale Oberfläche basierend auf Nanotechnologie anbot. „ceramicplus“ ist eine mittels Sol-Gel Methoden modifizierte Keramik. Diese nasschemische Nanotechnik erlaubt die Herstellung von Oberflächen mit sehr niedriger Oberflächenenergie. Diese bewirkt die schmutzabweisenden und besonders pflegeleichten Eigenschaften der so modifizierten Glasur. Eine weitere innovative Oberfläche wurde mit dem Produkt „activecare“ vorgestellt. Diese Keramik enthält geringe Mengen an anti-bakteriell wirksamen Silberionen, welche das Wachstum von Bakterien hemmen und damit eine verbesserte Hygiene gewährleisten. Unabhängige Tests von Forschungsinstituten haben die Eigenschaften und die Langlebigkeit von „ceramicplus“ und „activecare“ bestätigt. Aufgrund seiner wasser- und schmutzabweisenden Eigenschaften benötigt „ceramicplus“ einen geringeren Reinigungsaufwand, wobei die für keramische Oberflächen bekannte Qualität nicht beeinträchtigt wird. Rauheit und Härte von „ceramicplus“ unterscheiden sich nicht signifikant von einer konventionellen Glasur für Sanitärkeramik. Scheuertests zeigen, dass nur der Gebrauch abrasiver Reinigungsmittel – wie Scheuerpulver – über längere Zeit die Oberfläche „ceramicplus“ ebenso wie konventionelle Glasuren beschädigen kann. Dank der pflegeleichten Eigenschaften von „ceramicplus“ ist der Gebrauch solch abrasiver Mittel zur Reinigung nicht erforderlich.
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© 2007, Carl Hanser Publisher, Munich
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- A Novel Method for the Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO2 at Ambient Temperature
- Sanitary Ware with Easy Cleaning and/or Antibacterial Properties
- Novel Surfactants
- Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of Novel Anionic Fumaric Polymerizable Surfactants
- Physical Chemistry
- Interfacial Tensions, Partition Coefficients, and Interfacial Elasticities: Measures for Emulsion Stability?
Articles in the same Issue
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Abstracts
- Abstracts
- Application
- Influence of Polymer Architecture on the Stabilization of Iron and Manganese Ions in Aqueous Systems
- The Long-term Stability of Sodium Percarbonate in Presence of Zeolite as Measured by Heat Flow Calorimetry
- A Novel Method for the Synthesis of Mesoporous TiO2 at Ambient Temperature
- Sanitary Ware with Easy Cleaning and/or Antibacterial Properties
- Novel Surfactants
- Synthesis and Characterization of a Series of Novel Anionic Fumaric Polymerizable Surfactants
- Physical Chemistry
- Interfacial Tensions, Partition Coefficients, and Interfacial Elasticities: Measures for Emulsion Stability?
