© Inocon
The germicidal surfaces which make hospitals safer are particularly interesting. In an experiment carried out in conjunction with the Medical University of Graz, Inocon clearly demonstrated how fast germs spread in hospitals. Completely harmless germs were put on a single light switch in a hospital. In the evening these germs were found in almost the entire hospital. If one freed doorknobs, fittings, light switches and buttons touched my many people from germs, this would eliminate the risk for the most part. The key are extremely thin surfaces made of zinc and zinc oxide applied in a special plasma coating process. This unique technology is being developed by the Austrian company Inocon.
Inocon applies the finest metal in the form of a powder or vapor in the plasma jet heated to a temperature of tens of thousands of degrees in order to coat doorknobs and the like. Using a powder allows coating thicknesses of only 5 μm to 250 μm. The use of vapor even enables coatings of just a few nanometers i.e. a few millionths of a millimetre. There is a broad range of applications for these functional surfaces. The germicidal fittings would considerably enhance hygienic standards in schools, kindergartens or public toilets. Combined with silicone, the nanocoating in lattices will turn into a functional surface, preventing blood from sticking to the wound dressing.
