Removable antimicrobial coating compositions and methods of use

1. An antimicrobial composition being removable by application of water thereto having a viscosity ratio between 15 and 12 wherein said viscosity ratio is the ratio of viscosity at a shear rate of 5 s-1 to the viscosity at a shear rate of 190 s −1 , the composition comprising:

i) 1 to 30 wt. % of a water soluble or water-dispersible film-forming agent selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylic add, acrylate copolymers, ionic hydrocarbon polymers, polyurethanes or combinations thereof;

ii) at least 0.001 wt. % of an antimicrobial agent;

iii) at least 50 wt. % of an inert solvent;

iv) a surfactant that provides a surface tension of the composition below 40 mN/m; and

v) a rheology agent capable of adjusting the viscosity ratio.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the surface tension of the composition is below 35 mN/m.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is an organosilicone.

4. The composition of claim 1 , comprising 0.01 wt. % to 0.2 wt. % of the surfactant.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition provides a reduction of microorganisms of at least 3-log when applied to a contaminated surface.

6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises one or more: plasticizer, cross-linking agent, colorant, solubilizing agent, rheology modifier, antioxidant pH adjuster, antifoaming agent, lubricant, processing aid, color fastness agent, performance enhancing agent, or enzyme.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition is removable from a surface by applying the water at a temperature of about 15° C. to about 100° c.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the water soluble or water-dispersible film-forming agent is a polyvinyl alcohol or a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.

9. The composition of claim 8 , comprising about 2% to about 15% by weight of the polyvinyl alcohol or the polyvinyl alcohol copolymer.

10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the inert solvent is water.

11. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising about 0.001% to about 1% by weight of at least one surfactant.

12. A method for controlling microorganisms at a locus, the method comprising:

(a) applying to the locus a liquid coating composition having a degree of shear thinning, the composition comprising:

i) 1 to 30 wt. % of a water soluble or water-dispersible film-forming agent selected from polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylic acid, acrylate copolymers, ionic hydrocarbon polymers, polyurethanes, or combinations thereof;

ii) at least 0.001 wt. % of an antimicrobial agent;

iii) at least 50 wt. % of an inert solvent;

iv) a surfactant that provides a surface tension of the composition below 40 mN/m;

v) a rheology agent capable of adjusting the viscosity ratio;

wherein the composition has a viscosity ratio between 1.5 and 50 in which the viscosity ratio is the ratio of viscosity at a shear rate of 5 s-1 to the viscosity at a shear rate of 190 s-1; and

(b) removing the coating composition from the locus by applying water to the locus.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water is applied at a temperature of about 15° C. to about 100° C.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is applied in a thickness of about 0.3 to about 300 microns.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is applied in a thickness of about 1.0 to about 30 microns.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is applied by spraying, aerosolizing, or pouring.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition provides a reduction of microorganisms of at least 3-log when applied to a contaminated food processing surface.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water is applied by spraying onto the locus.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the water is applied by pressure washing.