Evaluation of bactericidal properties of PVC-compositions for linoleum production

Abstract

The present paper deals with evaluating bactericidal properties of polyvinylchloride compositions for linoleum manufacturing. PVC-floor coatings are widely used in health care facilities, hospitals and outpatient departments due to antistatic properties, non-toxicity, advanced resistance to wear, fastness to water, functionality and improved durability. Strict standards of resistance to bacteria and fungi are applied to this type of coatings due to their exposure to detergents and washing agents. Modifying PVCcomposition by calcium methylsilicate, also known as wollastonite, increases its resistance to Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. Cationic surface-active substances are active to both type of microorganisms and could withstand propagation of bacterial medium on polyvinylchloride linoleum surface. They also exhibit the functions of biostatics inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and of bactericides killing microorganisms. Quaternary ammonium compounds represent efficient group of biocides for water-dispersible coating materials and for this reason their investigation for PVC-linoleum is of utmost interest. PVC floor coatings modified by wollastonite are more resistant to aggressive chemical liquids and microorganisms than linoleum with the base composition. The authors proved that PVC-based linoleum with surface-activated filler, wollastonite, had shown enhanced fastness to water and higher resistance to water solutions of antiseptic agents and bacteria.