How do special, advanced coatings help reduce the risk of infection inside aircraft cabins, 
in the age of COVID-19? This page explains how coatings can work inside aircraft, other modes of transport & buildings such as airports and rail stations, to control bacteria & viruses. Thereby reducing the risk of contamination between users.
In most cases, no new cabin equipment is installed on board – saving significant costs for airlines & users alike. Solutions & processes for aircraft cabins are regulator-approved.
Copper is EPA registered (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reg. Nos. 82012-1 to 6) as the first solid antimicrobial material.
Certain naturally-occurring ions, especially copper & silver, are highly reactive. And they can interrupt vital processes in microbes, rendering them less harmful or even completely inert.
Passengers have significant concerns regarding cabin cleanliness and scores of highly-publicized news videos such as this one are only increasing the awareness.
While metal may sound ‘heavy’ & not suitable for aircraft, our solutions use nano-particles; not adding appreciably to the weight of the aircraft cabin.
For a free evaluation of how special coatings & special on-board cleaning solutions can help you protect your passengers & staff, please contact us.
On human cells, however, these same ions have no negative effect. The features available make special, light-weight coatings ideal candidates to reduce infection risk on board aircraft.
Containing a special top-coat, our cabin solutions are long-lasting; they do not wear off & can remain as active on-board protection, for many years. Seat tray-tables, hand-rails, door-knobs, door handles, armrests, washroom surfaces, fixtures & more, are all candidates for surface treatment.
In many cases replacement of original cabin equipment is not necessary because we apply a special film or coating on top of the clean, original surface.
In this way, the proprietary, Regulator-approved process makes good use of existing equipment, reducing cost to the airline and to the environment.
Metal’s Effect Against Certain Microbes
Even before we knew what bacteria were capable of, we were using certain metals to help fight their effects. The secret is how small electrical charges can affect microbes (certain bacteria & viruses). This video shows how it works;
Example: How the Process Works Against Microbes On-Board
The antimicrobial activity of certain metals & is now well established; copper is EPA registered (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reg. Nos. 82012-1 to 6) as the first solid antimicrobial material. In several clinical studies, copper has been evaluated for use on touch surfaces, such as door handles, bathroom fixtures, or bed rails, in attempts to curb nosocomial infections.
(A) copper from the surface causes cell damage. (B) cell membrane ruptures because of copper and other stress phenomena, leading to loss of membrane potential and cytoplasmic content. (C) copper ions induce the generation of reactive oxygen species, which cause further cell damage. (D) genomic and plasmid DNA becomes degraded. Image: American Society for Microbiology
These same principles can be used on-board; aircraft, trains, ships, buildings & more. Contained in light-weight coatings, suitable for use in aircraft cabins, with very little extra weight.
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Next Steps
Airlines, operators & airports addressing the legitimate cleanliness & safety concerns of today’s flying public will have several advantages, going forward.
For a free evaluation of how special coatings & special on-board cleaning solutions can help you protect your passengers & staff, please contact us using this quick form;
At the link, above, please select “Cabin Anti-Microbial Solutions” from the drop-down list. We look forward to the possibility of hearing from you.
Additional Info: Sanitizing Cabins Between-Flights
You can read more on the subject of how to achieve aircraft cabin cleanliness between flights, for the entire cabin (lavatories, galleys & more) using UVC (short wavelength UltraViolet light) here; Advanced Cabin Cleaning Systems
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609261
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334596091
https://aem.asm.org/content/77/5/1541
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hand-hygiene
https://copperalloystewardship.com