View online magazine
Bio-Guardian elastomer is effective against bacterial growth
Results from tests carried out by the Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene at Phillipps University Marburg, in Germany, have shown that Bio-Guardian elastomer compound has a significant germ reduction and growth inhibition effect on bacteria such as E-coli and MRSA. Developed by Garlock Sealing Technologies, Bio-Guardian is a mouldable compound incorporating silver ions (Ag2+) and is already available in the Garlock Cefil'Air range of inflatable seals.In production environments where a low germ count is essential, such as the food and pharmaceutical industries, biostatic growth inhibition is critical. Measured against a controlled test to Japanese standard JIS L 1902:1998, 2002, Bio-Guardian met food sector requirements with reduction rates of three to four log 10 levels for tested species including E-coli, MRSA and VRE.
Cefil'Air Bio-Guardian seals provide good sealing for irregular moving surfaces such as door or lid type closures. The inflatable design of the seal allows it to be deflated and inflated as required to provide a secure seal between two surfaces. Bio-Guardian seal elastomer will withstand temperatures from -100 to 250 degrees C and pressures from 0.5-10.4bar in a wide range of liquid or gaseous media.
Applications for Cefil'Air Bio-Guardian include sealing access points for clean room entry; where the door seal becomes exposed to an external environment, its ability to reduce germs and prevent micro-organism development helps to maintain clean room integrity. In addition to growth inhibition properties, the Cefil'Air inflatable seal technology completely fills irregular gaps between the clean room door and its frame.
Detailed results of the independent tests, which were carried out by Professor R Mutters and his team, are available via the website.
For more information, visit www.garlock.co.uk