The 3D Fils company of the Miguel Hernández University (UH) science park in Elche has developed a line of antibacterial filaments for 3D printing, with which to offer users the possibility of manufacturing reusable objects to use safely in an environment health or risk of spread of Covid-19 .
These filaments have already been used in different initiatives such as the manufacture of protective glasses , developed by the UMH Science Park, or a project to manufacture 3D printed masks , they point out in a statement. It is also intended to be used to develop medical equipment, although, they point out, that this will depend on each field of application and the specific regulations that govern it.
With this new line, called abFil and certified with ISO 22196, this firm seeks to offer users the possibility of manufacturing reusable objects that can be used safely in a health or risk environment.
The firm has used silver ions to achieve antibacterial protection in its filaments since, according to the Chief of Operations, Pablo Valero, silver is an “excellent antiseptic” , since its ions can cross bacterial membranes and cause these bacteria cell distortion, loss of viability and inhibition of the replication process.
“The main advantages of silver as an antibacterial agent are its efficacy against a wide spectrum of bacterial agents, its long-lasting effect over time, its excellent skin compatibility or its pro-healing effect. These ions are totally safe and innocuous for the human being and allow the filaments to be sterilized with different methods ”, assures Valero.
These ions are totally safe and harmless for humans and allow the filaments to be sterilized with different methods. “We subjected the filaments of the abFil range to antibacterial controls in an independent laboratory. The result that has been obtained is of more than 99% of bacterial elimination ”, emphasizes Valero.
