The COVID-19 pandemic put the spotlight on microbes and cleanliness, creating more interest than ever before in antimicrobial coatings. However, bringing new innovations to the industry is not without its challenges, requiring the continual development of novel tools and procedures that can be seamlessly and invisibly incorporated into coatings.
Microbes are found everywhere. These small, living organisms, which include bacteria, molds, fungi, algae and viruses, can rapidly multiply in different environments, making them hard to control in nature. They are frequently found in undesirable locations (Figure 1), where they can cause illnesses, food spoilage, surface stains, bad odors and reduced product life due to contamination or degradation.