Is Silicone Rubber Antibacterial & Antimicrobial?

Antibacterial Silicone also known as antimicrobial silicone, which is a type silicone added with antibacterial agent or antimicrobial additives to enhance its resistance to bacteria, germs. Due to FDA approved and biocompatible properties, Antibacterial silicone is ideal for producing antibacterial products like antibacterial door handle covers, antibacterial toothbrush, antibacterial phone case, antimicrobial keyboard cover, antibacterial silicone face brush, applied in medical device, human daily life, food and beverage industry, where hygiene and sterility are so vital.

How Is Silicone Antibacterial?

Is silicone naturally antibacterial? Silicone is not naturally antibacterial. Silicone is resistant to bacteria because of antibacterial additives exist. The antimicrobial property of silicone rubber can be enhanced by adding antimicrobial agents in the formulation of its compound, like silver and zinc agents. The resulting compound will have a greater ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, molds, yeast, and fungi. 

Is Food Grade Silicone Antibacterial? Silver-based silicone rubber is an excellent choice for anbacterial rubber parts used in food-grade applications. Food grade rubber materials with antimicrobial properties inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. As bacteria or microbes make contact with the silicone surface, the free silver ions break down their cell walls, inhibiting the growth of any micro-organisms. The material simultaneously breaks down the bacteria whilst preventing further colonising on its surface, thus providing ongoing protection.

Antimicrobial agent & Additive KP-J81 for Silicone Test Report SGS.pdf

Antibacterial agent & Additive KP-J67 for Rubber Test Report SGS.pdf

Antimicrobial Silcone Keyboard Cover Test Report SGS.pdf

Antibacterial Additives & Agents Types for Silicone Rubber

• Natural antimicrobials agents such as chitosan, it has high antibacterial efficiency, safety and non-toxic, but their service life is short.

• Metallic antibacterial agents such as silver ion-based antibacterial agents, with the advantages of high antibacterial activity and good safety, but silver raw materials are precious and rare, resulting in high cost of silver antibacterial agents; Silver, long known for its antimicrobial properties, works to inhibit the growth of a broad spectrum of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as mold and fungi. 

• Organic antibacterial agents such as quaternary ammonium salt, the sterilization speed, sterilization ability is strong but easy to develop drug resistance.

• The advantages of Compound Antibacterial Agents are long-acting, broad-spectrum, safe and non-toxic, good color stability, currently in the research stage.

Antibacterial Silicone Application

• The antibacterial silicone rubber is ideal for applications in medical environments, like antibacterial umbrella valve, duckbill valve, dispensing valve, silicone tubing, etc. All silicone products can pass the FDA certification, SGS certification and European LFGB certification, achieving barrier-free access to the market. 

• Antimicrobial silicone can also be used in our daily life like antibacterial silicone sleeves, antimicrobial silicone phone case, silicone keyboard cover, antibacterial door handle cover, antibacterial silicone face brush & scrubber, antibacterial silicone finger toothbrush etc.