Miami-based CMI Enterprises, a supplier of coated fabrics for healthcare, institutional, contract
furniture and transportation applications, has supplied vinyl fabrics containing its
nanotechnology-based Nanocide® Antimicrobial to upholster three fitness centers at Scranton,
Pa.-based Lackawanna College: one for students, one for athletes and one for alumni.
CMI uses nanotechnology to permanently embed performance benefits into its vinyl fabrics. The
Nanocide Antimicrobial finish – which is patented for use with leather, vinyl, thermoplastic
polyolefins and other such materials – contains pure silver particles measuring 4 to 6 nanometers,
which have been shown to kill 99.9 percent of resistant staphylococcus viruses, including
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, on contact within minutes, according to CMI. Mike
Jobe, the company’s vice president, sales/marketing, said the nanoscale size of the particles not
only provides faster killing of pathogens than do other silver-based antimicrobial technologies,
but also doesn’t affect the color of the fabric.
Nanocide Antimicrobial is featured in CMI’s line of Dimensions™ coated upholstery and bedding
fabrics. It can also be used in conjunction with the company’s Nano-Block Technology™ in its NBT™
Marine vinyl upholstery – which offers easy removal of stains from ballpoint pens, permanent
markers and various foods; a barrier with an active self-renewing agent to kill mildew and fungus;
and an ultraviolet (UV) inhibitor that more than doubles the colorfastness and durability to UV
exposure compared with conventional finishes. Jobe added that Nanocide also can be applied to
uncoated fabrics.
May 26, 2009
