I wonder if anyone has noticed that recently, there have been an increasing number of "antibacterial silicone" products on the market - antibacterial baby bottles, antibacterial aprons, antibacterial phone cases, antibacterial sealing rings... The prices are several times higher than those of ordinary silicone, and the packaging is marked with the big word "Antibacterial".
At this point, many consumers and purchasers will have a question: Is antibacterial silicone really effective, or is it just a marketing gimmick by the merchants?
Today, we will objectively discuss this topic from three perspectives: technical principles, industry standards, and actual testing.
1. Is silicone itself antibacterial?
To sum up: Ordinary silicone is not antibacterial.
Silicone itself has the advantages of being biologically inert, resistant to high temperatures, and soft and skin-friendly. However, it does not possess natural antibacterial properties.
Not only that, in humid and frequently touched scenarios, the surface of ordinary silicone is prone to breeding microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Research has found that silicone sealing rings without antibacterial agents, in a humid environment, have a mold growth rate of up to 82% within 3 months.
Therefore, the "antibacterial silicone" function is indeed something that needs to be "added" later on - not any kind of silicone can be called antibacterial silicone.
Two. Are there any standards? What level of antibacterial rate would be considered "antibacterial"?
Yes. And the standards are very clear.
To determine whether an antibacterial silicone is of good quality, it is necessary to refer to authoritative standards:
According to GB/T 31402 (Method for Measuring Antibacterial Activity of Surfaces of Plastics and Other Open-Cell Materials) and the international ISO 22196 standard, the antibacterial rate of antibacterial products against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli should be ≥ 99% (antibacterial activity value ≥ 2).
The mold prevention grade should comply with the GB/T 1741 standard and reach level 0-1. Level 0 means that there is no mold growth on the sample surface at all.
In simple terms: An antibacterial rate of 99% is the passing mark, not the excellent mark.
The truly compliant antibacterial silicone products on the market, when tested by a third-party testing institution (such as SGS), can achieve an inhibition rate of up to 99.9% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
III. Why do some people say it is a "trick"?
The antibacterial silicone is questioned as a "marketing gimmick", and there are several reasons for this:
First, there is a confusion of concepts. "Antibacterial" does not mean "bactericidal". Antibacterial refers to inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms, preventing their numbers from increasing further. However, it does not reduce or eliminate the existing bacteria. Some merchants exaggerate their claims, misleading consumers into believing that using antibacterial products will make them "immune to all toxins". This is indeed a form of misinformation.
Second, mixed sale of genuine and fake products. There are indeed some products on the market that merely have an "antibacterial" label, but no antibacterial agent has been added, or even if an antibacterial agent was added, it did not meet the standard requirements. These "counterfeit" products have lowered the reputation of the entire category.
Thirdly, there is a lack of standard understanding. Many consumers are not aware that an antibacterial rate of 99% or higher is the qualified standard. They simply believe what is written on the product as "antibacterial" without verifying the test report.
IV. Application of Antibacterial Silicone in Maternal and Infant Products
As a factory that has been dedicated to silicone products for 15 years, Hongxiangda is particularly cautious in applying antibacterial technology to maternal and infant silicone products (such as baby bottles, teething rings, bibs, etc.).
Maternal and infant products come into direct contact with the baby's mouth and skin. The requirements for antibacterial properties are not only "effective", but also "safe". Although silver ions have good antibacterial effects, the addition amount must be strictly controlled within a safe range to ensure no precipitation and low allergenicity.
At present, for high-quality antibacterial baby bottles, bibs and other products in the industry, the antibacterial rate generally can reach over 99%. However, we always adhere to a principle: Antibacterial does not mean no need for cleaning. It merely slows down the rate of bacterial reproduction, allowing for more time for cleaning.