Antimicrobial wood fibre/resin construction material could revolutionise disaster relief

After the devastation caused by typhoon Haiyan in early November 2013, there was an urgent need to build hospital facilities to replace the original medical centre that was flooded and flattened by the natural disaster.

An innovative wood fibre composite was used to build semi-permanent replacement medical units. The material consists of 75 per cent wood fibres gleaned from waste, with the remaining 25 per cent being made up of plastic (PP) resin.

Parx Plastics has joined forces with the developer of these innovative materials, Aviplast WFC/Deltawood, and together they have successfully added an antimicrobian property to this material composite, meaning the walls of these vital units now have an antimicrobial property of up to 99 per cent within 24 hours - which beats today's standards for regular hospital environments.

This biocompatibility technology is unique and innovative, as it does not make use of biocides, nanomaterials, heavy metals or any harmful substances. By making use od one of the most abundant trace elements in the human body, an intrinsic change is achieved making the surface of the material hostile to bacteria. Parx Plastics equips the material with a kind of immune system against bacteria that is central to the material, making a product that is 100 per cent safe for humans and the environment.

As the antimicrobial properties do not leach out from the material, it provides permanent antimicrobial protection with a high efficiency against E.Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus and Candida Albicans - among others.

General Manager of Aviplast WFC/Deltawood Wim Derksen stated: "We have been an innovator in the market providing this semi-permanent hospital concept, but now we are taking a big leap ahead with this permanent and safe antimicrobial technology."

Providing a safe concept that contributes to keeping healthcare environments clean could make a significant difference in areas challenged by the aftermath of natural disasters.

This technology is being demonstrated at Medtec Europe in Stuttgart this week (April 21st-23rd 2015).

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