ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT FOR COATING COMPOSITION
A microbe-resistant coating composition or paint including an antimicrobial agent is described. The antimicrobial agent is an inorganic bismuth-containing compound, and may be used in conjunction with other bismuth-containing compounds or other biocidal agents or methods. A method of treating an electrodeposition system for bacterial and/or fungal contamination is also described by adding an antimicrobial agent to at least a portion of the electrodeposition system.
1 . A method of treating an electrodeposition system, comprising:
a) providing an effective amount of at least one antimicrobial agent comprising at least an inorganic bismuth-containing compound; and
b) adding the antimicrobial agent to at least a part of the electrodeposition system.
2 . A method of maintaining an electrodeposition system free of microbial contamination, comprising:
a) providing an effective amount of at least one antimicrobial agent comprising at least an inorganic bismuth-containing compound;
b) adding the antimicrobial agent to at least a part of the electrodeposition system;
c) monitoring bacterial and fungal growth in the electrodeposition system at regular intervals; and
d) adding an additional amount of the antimicrobial agent to the electrodeposition system if bacterial or fungal growth is observed.
3 . A treating composition for electrodeposition systems comprising a binder resin and at least one antimicrobial agent including at least an inorganic bismuth-containing compound, wherein the antimicrobial agent is present in an amount effective to eliminate microbial contamination in the electrodeposition system.
4 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the inorganic bismuth-containing compound is a bismuth salt of a metal oxyanion.
5 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the inorganic bismuth-containing compound is bismuth aluminate.
6 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent further comprises an organic bismuth-containing compound.
7 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises the inorganic bismuth-containing compound in combination with bismuth citrate.
8 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises bismuth aluminate in combination with bismuth citrate.
9 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the electrodeposition system is a cathodic system.
10 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the electrodeposition system is an anodic system.
11 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent is present as at least part of a pigment paste for the electrodeposition system.
12 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the electrodeposition system exhibits no growth of microbial colonies.
13 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the electrodeposition system initially exhibits microbial colonies and the antimicrobial agent reduces the microbial population by at least 5% after seven days.
14 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent includes about 0.1% to 10% by weight of bismuth, based on the total weight of resin solids in the electrodeposition system.
15 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent is used as part of a continuous electrocoating process control microorganisms in an electrodeposition system.
16 . The composition or method of any of the above claims, wherein the antimicrobial agent is included in an electrodeposition coating composition.
17 . The composition or method of any of claim 16 , wherein the electrodeposition coating composition comprises:
a) at least one binder resin component;
b) at least one pigment component; and
c) an effective amount of the antimicrobial agent.
18 . The composition or method of claim 17 , wherein the antimicrobial agent is included in the at least one pigment component.
19 . A coating composition for electrodeposition, comprising:
a) at least one binder resin component;
b) at least one pigment component, wherein the pigment component includes an inorganic bismuth-containing compound.
20 . A microbe-resistant coating composition, comprising:
a) a vehicle;
b) at least one binder resin component;
c) optionally, at least one pigment component; and
d) at least about 0.1% by weight of an inorganic bismuth-containing compound, based on the total weight of resin solids in the composition.