Biofilm formation on silicone materials containing various antimicrobial agents

• The colonisation of microorganisms and subsequent biofilm formation on the surface of polymeric high voltage insulators affect the surface properties and can lead to failure of the insulators.  In this study, silicone materials were prepared with different antimicrobial agents. The materials were analysed for the changes in the physical, chemical, surface and mechanical properties before and after biological growth test.   Microorganisms used for the biological tests were fungi defined in the international standard test ISO 846 for electrical applications (Aspergillus niger van Tieghem, Penicillium funiculosum Thom, Paecilomyces variotii Bainier, Chaetomium globosum Kunze: Fries, Aspergillus terreus Thom, Aureobasidium pullulans (de Bary) Arnaud & Penicillium ochrochloron Biourge) and algae isolated from insulators in Sri Lanka and Tanzania (Chlorella vulgaris var. Autotrophica + various bacterial strains). Fungi growth test was performed by inoculation of the fungi on the surface of the materials and incubation in an oven at 28°C and 98% humidity for a specific period. Algae growth test was performed by inoculation on the material surface and subsequent incubation in room temperature under a constant fluorescent lamps for a specific period.   The results indicated that some of the samples could prevent the biofilm formation on the surface of the materials while the microbial growth was unaffected on the pure silicone rubber.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Polymerteknologi (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Polymer Technologies (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

High voltage insulators

silicone rubber

biofilm

biological growth

biocide

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)