Ceramic glaze having antimicrobial property
View Patent ↗An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.
1. An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
a ceramic glaze base adapted to be fired at a firing temperature of from at least about 1062° C.; and
an antimicrobial composition including: a first antimicrobial agent consisting of Ag 2 CO 3 ; and
a second antimicrobial agent that is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO or ZnO;
wherein the first antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about 0.5 to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition; and
wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of from about one percent to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition; and
wherein the glazing composition is adapted to possess an antimicrobial property after a conventional firing process at the firing temperature.
2. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is Bi 2 O 3 .
3. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is ZnO.
4. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the first antimicrobial agent and the second antimicrobial agent are present in the glaze composition at substantially equal concentrations.
5. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent in the glaze composition is about two percent;
wherein the second antimicrobial agent is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO or ZnO.
6. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent in the glaze composition is about four percent; and
wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about two percent.
7. The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of claim 1 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is CuO.
8. A glazed ceramic substrate, comprising:
a ceramic substrate having a first substrate surface; and
a fired antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition disposed on the first substrate surface;
wherein the fired antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition is a post-fired state of an antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition including:
a first antimicrobial agent consisting of Ag 2 CO 3 ; and
a second antimicrobial agent that is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO or ZnO;
wherein the first antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about 0.5 to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition; and
wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of from about one percent to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition.
9. The glazed ceramic substrate of claim 8 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is Bi 2 O 3 .
10. The glazed ceramic substrate of claim 8 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is CuO.
11. The glazed ceramic substrate of claim 8 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is ZnO.
12. The glazed ceramic substrate of claim 8 wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent is about two percent and the second antimicrobial agent is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO or ZnO.
13. The glazed ceramic substrate of claim 8 wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent is about four percent and the second antimicrobial agent is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO or ZnO.