Silver linings not just for clouds

Silver-coated nylon thread has been proven to kill bacteria and is being developed for a number of consumer and institutional uses.

A silver-coated fibre manufactured by a Pennsylvania-based medical supply firm has been shown to kill such bacteria as E. coli, pseudomonas, klebsiella, staphylococcus and streptococcus, any of which can cause illness in humans. At room temperature, bacteria in the vicinity of the thread begins to decrease substantially after an hour. When the temperature is raised to 98.6 F (body temperature), this bacteriacidal action is almost instantaneous.

The bacteriacidal effect of silver-coated nylon threads has created a market for anti-bacterial fabrics in Japan, as well as among hikers and backpackers. For example, a sock manufactured by Noble Medical Technologies and tested at Pennsylvania State University recently won the Editor’s Choice Award of Backpacker Magazine, and was also recognized by Sports Afield magazine.

Silver-coated nylon fibres provide two advantages to the wearer: one is that the anti-microbial properties of silver prevent the growth of all forms of bacteria, including the fungi that cause athlete’s foot; the other is that silver conductive characteristics drain away any static charge. The latter advantage is of particular interest to hospitals, where sparks caused by static electricity run the risk of igniting pure oxygen used in operating rooms.

These silver-coated fabrics also provide electromagnetic shielding. A study at the Mayo Clinic showed that electronic devices, broadcasting stations and high power lines tend to interfere with the operation of heart pacemakers. To counter the effects of electromagnetism, Noble Medical and a Japanese textile firm are developing sweaters made of the silver-coated nylon thread. The shielding provided by silver will protect the wearer’s pacemaker against electromagnetic interference.

— The preceding appeared in Silver News, published by the Washington, D.C.-based Silver Institute.