Paint innovation helps fight Covid-19

As the Covid-19 outbreak puts South Africa’s health care sector under severe strain, a number of technologies, equipment and solutions are being developed to help curb the spread of the virus and to address the country’s general health care needs in the long term.

Two paint product lines, designed for environments where infection control and anti-microbial properties are essential, are seen as particularly suitable for use in medical environments.

Plascon’s Professional Hygiene Low Sheen Paint and Kansai Shiquy Paint are designed to aid the health care sector in its efforts to maintain a clean and safe environment for patients and staff.

Plascon Professional Hygiene Low Sheen paint uses the company’s Biodefence silver technology which actively inhibits microbial growth between cleanings, promotes a more hygienic environment and helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination from painted surfaces, explains the company.

It further asserts that the Biodefence technology eliminates up to 99.9% of E.coli bacteria and provides proven protection against other harmful bacteria with low volatile organic compounds, is easy to clean and is stain resistant, withstanding repeated cleaning cycles while maintaining its antibacterial effectiveness.

With white and pastel tint base, the paint also offers ease of application and good hiding or opacity. It is suitable for correctly primed interior, new and previously painted plaster, concrete, porous brickwork and various types of building boards.

Plascon outlines how its parent company, Kansai Paint Japan, successfully converted the traditional Japanese plaster Shikkui into a paint finish named Kansai Shiquy Paint.

Features of the Shiquy paint include:

• An anti-viral effect
• The elimination of odours
• Humidity control
• Air purification

Viruses exist in moisture, such as droplets from coughing and sneezing, bodily fluids and water vapour in the air. When virus-containing moisture makes contact with the paint, its strong alkaline content renders the virus inactive, explains Plascon. 

The anti-viral properties of the paint are held in a thin film finish, which can be applied onto various surfaces. The product is available to professional customers and will be imported on request.