Thanks to the involvement of science, technology and business it was possible to create polyamide with antibacterial and antifungal properties. 

The success of the product began already in the early stages of the project and that is why technologists Grupa Azoty S.A. located in Tarnów and scientists from the Jagiellonian University were involved in working on the new plastic. A starting point for a reflection about the new grade of polyamide was the creation of the new, innovative method of immobilization of nanomolecules of silver to plastics developed by the team of Prof. Szczepan Zapotoczny from the Chemistry Department of the Jagiellonian University.

“The essence of our solution is that we can attach nanomolecules very firmly to plastics. It is all about nanomolecules which should stay there, where they are needed. Our technology makes it impossible for nanomolecules to ‘leak out’. They are also easy to add to plastics produced nowadays, because our technology does not require e.g. changes in the production lines,” explains Prof. Zapotoczny.

“The innovative recipe of polyamide which was developed in the Plastics Laboratory at Grupa Azoty S.A. does not affect mechanical properties of the plastic, which would be caused by adding Antymicrobial Hybrid Material. Biological tests have confirmed antibacterial and antifungal properties of modified plastic in relation to the most dangerous strains of bacteria and fungi. This is why we decided to incorporate into our product portfolio Tarnamid^® T-27 AM – a new plastic with antimicrobial properties,” says Małgorzata Malec, Head of the Plastics Segment. 

Thanks to unique properties, the new polyamide will be used in those branches of industry in which elements deprived of harmful microbes are needed i.e. medicine, public transport, food industry and automotive or white goods industry.

Tarnamid^® T-27 AM with silver nanomolecules was presented to the whole world in April at the 19th International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing PLASTPOL, Poland. During the event Tarnamid^® was awarded the PLASTPOL Medal in the category entitled ‘plastics and auxiliary materials for plastics processing’. It is also worth remembering that the method of production and immobilization of nanomolecules has obtained the laurels and gained recognition in the scientific society. Furthermore, supplement to the plastics developed by the team of Prof. Szczepan Zapotoczny won in the category ‘Medical Innovations’, during the annually held plebiscite ‘Focus Lens’. This method gained appreciation mainly for limiting migration of nanomolecules, which besides prolonging the antimicrobial effect allows to mitigate emission of nanomolecules of silver into the environment.