Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • MATERIALS
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • RESOURCES
  • EVENTS
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • CONTACT
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Latest News
  • Market Trends & Reports
  • Price Alerts
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
  • Weekly Featured Article
  • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
  • Product News
  • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
  • Additives
  • Resins/Polymers
  • Pigments
  • Equipment
  • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
  • Adhesives
  • Architectural Coatings
  • FINISHING
  • Industrial Coatings
  • Nanotechnology
  • Powder Coatings
  • Solventborne
  • Special Purpose Coatings
  • Sustainability
  • UV Coatings
  • Waterborne
  • FINISHING
  • Finishing News
  • Finishing Technologies
  • Finishing Equipment
  • Finishing Today
  • RESOURCES
  • Columns
  • Blogs
  • Coatings Supplier Handbook
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • PCI Store
  • Classifieds
  • eBooks
  • Sponsor Insights
  • White Papers
  • COATLE Word Game
  • Columns
  • Ask Joe Powder
  • Did you know?
  • Distribution Dive
  • Focus on Canada
  • Formulating With Mike
  • Innovation Insights
  • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
  • Powder Coating Perspectives
  • Target the Market
  • TiO2 Insider
  • Blogs
  • Editor's Viewpoint
  • Industry Insights
  • Podcasts and Videos
  • COAT-IT! Podcast
  • Videos/PCI TV
  • EVENTS
  • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
  • Paint and Coatings Academy
  • Webinars
  • Calendar of Events
  • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
  • Buyer's Guide
  • Equipment Directory
  • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
  • Current Issue
  • eMagazine Archive
  • China Issue Archive
  • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to eMagazine
  • Subscribe to eNewsletters
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!
Paint and Coatings AdditivesArchitectural CoatingsIndustrial CoatingsSpecial Purpose Coatings

Innovations in Antimicrobial and Antiviral Coatings

Innovations in Antimicrobial and Antiviral Coatings

Photo courtesy of Corning

July 27, 2022

The demand for antimicrobial and antiviral coatings has increased dramatically since the onset of Covid, and companies have been working hard to develop new technologies to help keep the public safer and healthier. PCI recently interviewed Avantika Golas, Commercial Technology Manager, Corning® Guardiant®, to learn about the latest antimicrobial/antiviral coatings innovations, how these products are tested and how long they are effective.


PCI: What has demand for antimicrobial (AM) coatings been like since the onset of the pandemic?

Golas: While demand has been significant, there wasn’t a solution immediately available, and understandably, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wanted to be very careful on what they approved. In October 2020, the EPA published interim guidance for supplemental residual products with virucidal claims and expedited the registration of products that are effective against SARS-CoV-2. As a result, there are now two EPA-registered products available for purchase in the U.S. (BEHR Sanitizing Paint and PPG Copper Armor), both with Corning Guardiant as the antimicrobial additive.

Virucidal coatings are a new product category in the United States; prior to 2020, the U.S. EPA only permitted virucidal efficacy claims on liquid disinfectant products. From 2016 to 2020, Corning had several interactions with the U.S. EPA to showcase the need for products with in-built virucidal efficacy in addition to bactericidal efficacy, which required the development of a test method for measuring viral kill. These efforts laid the groundwork for EPA’s guidance changes, and expedited product development and registrations by coatings manufacturers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We all know that the pandemic drastically changed the way our society lives and works. Many of us now operate with a heightened awareness of viruses and bacteria, and the potential threats they can pose to our health. On top of increased demand for traditional liquid disinfectants and sanitizers, the market has also seen an increased interest in materials that offer in-built antimicrobial properties. We believe that consumers and health professionals alike now recognize antimicrobial surfaces as critical supplements to recommended hygiene practices, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this space will grow in the future. As other precautionary measures such as mask-wearing wane, supplemental disinfectants such as antimicrobial coatings play an increasingly important role by providing an extra layer of protection against germs.


PCI: How did Corning continue with its innovation process during the challenges with the pandemic?

Golas: From the onset of the pandemic, Corning’s top priority was ensuring the health and safety of our employees and communities while continuing to meet the needs of our customers. The company ensured employees working from home had the necessary tools to do so, and implemented masking and health screening at the manufacturing and laboratory facilities that remained open, keeping our operations running while prioritizing employee safety. As the pandemic progressed, the company emphasized employee awareness and education efforts, and continued to adjust protocol as needed to maintain a protected workplace.

With these adjustments in place, business was able to continue almost seamlessly. Corning not only continued to deliver for our global customers, but also increased pandemic response efforts to aid our global community. The company ramped up manufacturing of Corning Valor® Glass vials for vaccine distribution and used our equipment and materials to produce masks and face shields to aid in the shortage of facial coverings.

The Corning Guardiant team, our customer collaborators, and the U.S. EPA worked tirelessly through the pandemic to develop and register coatings with virucidal efficacy against pathogens including the COVID-19 virus. Because of our company’s commitment to protecting employees and delivering results, my team was able to continue coordination with global customers and regulatory bodies to help deliver antimicrobial coatings to the market as quickly as possible, including a donation of 5 million RMB worth of virucidal paint to hospitals in the Hubei province of China.


PCI: Can you talk about how Corning tests AM coatings against different viruses? How can you tell if the testing is valid?

Golas: For products that are truly bactericidal or virucidal (i.e., can kill bacteria or viruses), testing needs to be conducted to simulate everyday conditions and realistic contamination. This protocol is conducted at room temperature (20-24 °C) and ambient humidity (40%-50% RH). To pass the test for effectivity, a product must achieve >3 log kill (>99.9%)of microbes on the surface within two hours. An important part of the protocol is subjecting the antimicrobial surfaces to abrasion and wear, which validates durability and lifetime of efficacy.

Using the appropriate test method to validate the efficacy of an antimicrobial coating is critical. The traditional tests for antimicrobial surfaces are “wet tests” such as JISZ 2801 and ISO 22196. These tests involve the use of a volume of liquid in the bacterial inoculum that ensures that the surface remains wet throughout the experiment. The testing is conducted at high temperature and humidity (37 °C, >95% RH), using a cover slip, typically over a 24-hour period. These testing conditions can inflate interactions between the biocide and the microbes through interactions with the biocide at the surface and extracted or dissolved biocide from the substrate.

Despite wet test standards being unrepresentative of realistic contamination, many regions do not have regulations governing test methods for efficacy and corresponding marketing claims. However, there is a slow trend of regulatory adoption of dry test standards with U.S., Canadian and European Union regulatory authorities mandating differentiated test standards for products seeking claims against harmful germs. We anticipate that the interest in products with virucidal claims driven by the pandemic will accelerate this trend.

 

PCI: Can you explain how AM coatings work within a paint product and how long the AM efficacy lasts?

Golas: The specifics of the paint’s function and efficacy are dependent on the individual product and the active antimicrobial ingredient being used. Different coatings manufacturers can speak more in-depth about their products, but I can share the details on Corning Guardiant.

Guardiant is a copper-containing glass ceramic that encapsulates the most potent form of copper — Cu+1. This technology works by enabling the gradual release of antimicrobial copper ions on the surface of the coating. Copper ions kill germs via multiple mechanisms of action such as direct cell membrane damage, generation of reactive hydroxyl radicals through Fenton-type reactions, and entry of copper ions into cells through ligand interactions that cause disruption of RNA and DNA functions.

Guardiant starts working within minutes. Coatings powered by Guardiant have been shown to kill >99.9% of a broad spectrum of viruses and bacteria in two hours or less, and to remain effective against viruses and bacteria for up to six years after the application of the paint.


PCI: If a consumer is going to buy a paint, what are some of the things they should look for in an AM product?

Golas: First, look for statements that claim “kill” of harmful viruses and bacteria. Use of this language helps to indicate that the paint has gone through the necessary registration with the U.S. EPA and is demonstrated to actively kill harmful germs. EPA registration also indicates that the paint has been tested using a dry test protocol, which is a more accurate representation of real-world environments. Products with claims of “reduction of growth” in “spoilage-causing”/ “odor- or stain-causing bacteria” are not antimicrobial coatings that have been proven effective against germs harmful to humans.

Second, look for a claim about the longevity of the antimicrobial function. This indicates the useful life of the paint’s germ-killing activity, which could be up to six years.

Third, check the fine print for the list of viruses and bacteria the paint has been tested against. Look for “feline calicivirus,” norovirus, or another non-enveloped virus in this list. Some antimicrobial ingredients are only effective against easier-to-kill viruses and bacteria but claims against a non-enveloped virus help to indicate that the paint is effective against a broad spectrum of germs including those deemed, ‘harder-to-kill.’

If shopping for antimicrobial paints outside the U.S., try to confirm the product has been tested using a dry method such as the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) splash test or the U.S. EPA dry test protocol. Also, look for copper listed as the active ingredient because copper has been shown to be effective against a broad spectrum of germs in wet and dry conditions.

KEYWORDS: antimicrobial coatings

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • pci1022-Kinaltek-Lead-1170.jpg

    A Novel Pigment Production Technology

    Following an extensive R&D program that demonstrated...
    Paint and Coating Pigments
    By: Jawad Haidar and Nitin Soni
  • pci global top 10

    2025 Global Top 10: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    The following is PCI’s annual ranking of the top 10...
    Global Top 10 and PCI 25
    By: Courtney Bassett
  • 2025 pci 25

    2025 PCI 25: Top Paint and Coatings Companies

    PCI's annual ranking of the top 25 North American paint...
    Paint and Coating Market Reports
    By: Courtney Bassett
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

close

1 COMPLIMENTARY ARTICLE(S) LEFT

Loader

Already a Registered User? Sign in now.

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

CTT Registration Now Open

CTT Registration Now Open

The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

The Coatings Minute: Your Inside Look at PCInnovations

The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

The Coatings Minute: Print Returns with PCI’s New Showcase Issue

The Coatings Minute: Your Guide to the 2025 Coatings Supplier Handbook

The Coatings Minute: Your Guide to the 2025 Coatings Supplier Handbook

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the PCI audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of PCI or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Modern arapartment complex painted in bright colors.
    Sponsored byEPS - Engineered Polymer Solutions

    Architectural Polymers Leading the Way in Coatings Innovation

  • paint sprayer in a workshop
    Sponsored byallnex

    Enabling Performance and Compliance: allnex Introduces a New Line of VOC Exempt Solvent-Borne Resins

Popular Stories

No. 3 AkzoNobel

AkzoNobel’s $1.4B Divestment Signals Strategy Shift

PCI voices from the top

eBook | PCI Voices from the Top

Mergers and Acquisitions

RPM Expands Portfolio With Strategic Acquisition



PCI Buyers Guide

Submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) to suppliers of your choice with details on what you need with a click of a button

Start your RFP

Browse our Buyers Guide for manufacturers and distributors of all types of coatings products and much more!

Find Suppliers

Events

September 3, 2025

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit

The Coatings Trends & Technologies (CTT) Summit is an annual conference for both liquid and powder coatings formulators and manufacturers to discuss innovations in coatings technology. This event combines high-quality technical presentations, a resource-rich exhibit hall, and dedicated networking opportunities to connect scientific minds, foster innovation, and cultivate game-changing new ideas!

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Longest-running laboratory experiment

What is the longest-running laboratory experiment?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

CTT Summit Short Courses (Live 9/3/25)

Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit is expanding its offerings with four short courses. These short courses will offer an extensive day of interactive learning.

See More Products
pci voices from the top ebook

PCI CASE EBOOK

Related Articles

  • MarketForecasts-118438237.jpg

    Lux Research Releases Report on Antimicrobial Coatings Innovations

    See More
  • Antiviral Coatings in Covid Times

    Antiviral Coatings in Covid Times

    See More
  • pci-0223-Corning-1355433539-1170.jpg

    PPG Partnership Leads to Innovations in Next-Gen Paint Technology

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • durability.jpg

    Increasing the Durability of Paint and Varnish Coatings in Building Products and Construction 1st Edition

  • biopolymer.jpg

    Biopolymer-Based Films and Coatings Trends and Challenges

See More Products
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Painting & Coating Industry (PCI) logo Powder coating summit logo
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Market Trends & Reports
    • Price Alerts
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
    • Global Top 10/ PCI 25
    • Weekly Featured Article
    • COATLE Word Game
  • PRODUCTS
    • Product News
    • Must See Products and Services
  • MATERIALS
    • Additives
    • Resins/Polymers
    • Pigments
    • Equipment
    • Distributors
  • TECHNOLOGIES
    • Adhesives
    • Architectural Coatings
    • FINISHING
      • Finishing News
      • Finishing Technologies
      • Finishing Equipment
      • Finishing Today
    • Industrial Coatings
    • Nanotechnology
    • Powder Coatings
    • Solventborne
    • Special Purpose Coatings
    • Sustainability
    • UV Coatings
    • Waterborne
  • RESOURCES
    • Columns
      • Ask Joe Powder
      • Did you know?
      • Distribution Dive
      • Focus on Canada
      • Formulating With Mike
      • Innovation Insights
      • Moody's Coatings Conundrums
      • Powder Coating Perspectives
      • Target the Market
      • TiO2 Insider
    • Blogs
      • Editor's Viewpoint
      • Industry Insights
    • Coatings Supplier Handbook
    • Podcasts and Videos
      • COAT-IT! Podcast
      • Videos/PCI TV
    • PCI Store
    • Classifieds
    • eBooks
    • Sponsor Insights
    • White Papers
    • COATLE Word Game
  • EVENTS
    • Coatings Trends & Technologies Summit
    • Paint and Coatings Academy
    • Webinars
    • Calendar of Events
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyer's Guide
    • Equipment Directory
    • Materials Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • eMagazine Archive
    • China Issue Archive
    • Editorial Advisory Board
  • CONTACT
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe to eMagazine
    • Subscribe to eNewsletters
  • SIGN UP!