Molteni Vernici takes the opportunity to make some clarity in the varied and complicated world of antibacterial paints.
First of all we must start from the premise that the fact that a paint is declared antibacterial does not necessarily mean that this is a quality product, since the bactericidal function of the product is different from the characteristics of adhesion or resistance that this product must possess in order to carry out its primary function of protecting and ennobling the treated piece; so if a product is poor, it is poor even if it is antibacterial.
Within this huge category fall for example the wall products that contain anti-bacterial anti-mold substances, the products used in the wood industry as anti-fungus, or even all those products that are registered in the textile industry as anti-mite; however, antibacterial paints must be able to perform their aggressive function without coming into contact with humans, which is why they are subject to numerous limitations and require specific authorizations.
Then there are paints that contain substances with antimicrobial functions, which, once applied on the manufactured articles, in addition to carrying out the primary function of protection and ennobling of the treated piece, prevent the triggering of a proliferation of germs due to human contact; the most used are those based on silver, which, incorporated into the paint, create a condition unfavorable to the proliferation of germs.
However, at this point it is necessary to make a clear distinction between all these products placed on the market.
The fact that international antimicrobial tests have been performed on the substances used means only that, if used correctly, they provide the purpose for which they were created; however, as already mentioned, these substances, in order to be called 'antibacterial', must be processed correctly, that is their quantity must not exceed the danger level for humans.
Precisely for this reason, all the products used by Molteni Vernici srl have had indications from the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the minimum and maximum limit to be used on products in contact with humans; furthermore, the antimicrobial substance is not 'nano' as stated in the safety data sheet, precisely to prevent the particles that are too small from being absorbed by the skin or sucked.
Finally, it should be remembered that the only valid certification is not that relating to antibacterial paints, but that which must be carried out on finished products, as stated in article 58 of the new Regulation 528-2012, for which it is mandatory to have the finished product tested to define the product as an 'antibacterial'.
