Pittsburgh-based PPG announced Tuesday that it had received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for its PPG Copper Armor paint, proven to kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses.
Copper Armor contains Corning Guardiant technology which kills bacteria and viruses, including SARS CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in two hours. Measuring the efficacy of the product via tests that simulate real-world contamination as mandated by law, the company proved to the EPA its claims about the product’s effect against harmful pathogens.
PPG expects to begin selling the product in late 2021 through U.S. PPG Paints stores, independent retailers and in select home improvement stores.
“Now more than ever, our customers are seeking multiple layers of protection from viruses and bacteria on the many surfaces they’re touching while navigating the ongoing pandemic,” Tim Knavish, PPG executive vice president, said. “PPG Copper Armor with Corning Guardiant technology is the first virus killing paint in the U.S., and will provide an extra layer of protection on the walls that surround us where we live, work and learn.”
The product is intended for high-traffic areas like health care facilities, hospitality facilities, offices and educational environments, as well as in residential applications. The company said the Corning Guardiant technology kills viruses and bacteria within two hours of contact of the painted surface for up to five years, providing a safeguard on walls, trim and doors. The paint is also mold- and mildew-resistant.
“We started development on Corning Guardiant several years ago with the belief that copper is the key to delivering a truly effective antimicrobial coating,” Joydeep Lahiri, division vice president and program director, Specialty Surfaces, Corning Inc., said. “We’re excited about our partnership with PPG as well as its latest product offering — Copper Armor — which helps make antimicrobial surface technology more readily available to the public.”