14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Corning officially announced the Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, as the first EPA-registered antimicrobial cover glass that will offer protection for both smartphones and users alike.
The new product comes with an antibacterial agent, ionic silver, which has been included into the glass surface, and which will deliver sustained activity.
According to Corning, process and metrology innovations will ensure precise control of silver levels that are needed to maintain the mechanical, optical, and dielectric properties of the Gorilla Glass.
The company also notes that its new product is meant to address an increasing concern driven by the proliferation of touch technologies on mobiles, especially due to the fact that we share more and more touch-enabled surfaces at home, work, and elsewhere.
The new Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass is already being tested with numerous manufacturers for various applications, the company announced, adding that it is capable of high-volume production.
“Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass inhibits the growth of algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria because of its built-in antimicrobial property, which is intrinsic to the glass and effective for the lifetime of a device,” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials.
“This innovation combines best-in-class antimicrobial function without compromising Gorilla Glass properties. Our specialty glass provides an excellent substrate for engineering antimicrobial and other functional attributes to help expand the capabilities of our Corning Gorilla Glass and address the needs of new markets.”
Although antibacterial wipes, foams, sprays, and films are already available out there, they represent only temporary solutions for the aforementioned issue, and not all manufacturers agree with their use.
The Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass can be installed not only on mobile phones, but also on computers, telephones, and other electronic display panels.
Moreover, the new Gorilla Glass can also be used in health care, hospitality, and transportation industries, the company announced.