What is Antimicrobial Copper?

Antibacterial copper, the most powerful natural antibacterial substance

What is Antimicrobial Copper?

Antibacterial activity naturally occurs in copper or copper alloys containing more than 60% of copper. It is effective in preventing cross-infection with bacteria and viruses such as Escherichia coli and food poisoning bacteria and is the most powerful non-toxic, human-friendly natural antibacterial material.

In the United States alone, about 2 million people each year have secondary infections in healthcare facilities, and about 100,000 people die from it.

Worldwide, infections in this medical institution are causing astronomical socio-economic costs. A clinical trial conducted with the support of the U.S. Department of Defense revealed that patients treated in intensive care units equipped with antimicrobial copper products reduced the probability of cross infections by up to 70%.

Copper and copper content 60% antimicrobial copper, which is effective in the above copper alloys, is a natural antibacterial property of copper itself, and it eradicates 99.9% of various bacteria that cause healthcare-associated infections within 2 hours, it is excellent in preventing infectious diseases such as cross infections. By actively using these antibacterial coppers in daily life, not only can you lead a hygienic environment and a healthy life, but you can also reduce the socio-economic costs of secondary infection.

The process of Bacteria Dying on K Copper Plus

A

Bacteria recognises copper ions as essential nutrients and absorbs them, the copper ions penetrates and causes cell damage.

B

The cell membrane ruptures because of Copper and other stress phenomena, leading to loss of membrane potential and Cytoplasmic content.

C

Copper ions induce the generation of reactive oxygen species, which causes further cell damage.

D

Genomic and plasmid DNA becomes degraded preventing cell replication from self-proliferation.

Effect of Antimicrobial Copper?

Surface stability test comparing SARS and Corona-19 for each material
In the above experiment, the virus was applied to copper, cardboard, stainless steel, and plastic while maintaining a relative humidity of 40% for 7 days at 21~23℃. It can be seen that copper is significantly lower than other materials and completely disappears in a short time. The study was published on April 16 this year in The New England Journal of Medicine. With this research, research to prevent the Corona-19 virus using copper is being actively conducted in each country, and K-Cooper Plus is also developing and researching a product using antibacterial copper.

Comparison test of the antibacterial performance of representative inorganic materials

99.9% antibacterial activity confirmed within 2 hours in copper only

(More than 90% extinct within 30 minutes)

Source: International Copper Alliance, 2010

Test results of contactable objects in the hospital.

Reduction of pathogens/bacteria by more than 90% on the surface of copper products

No super-bacteria MRSA and VRE were detected

Source: Salgado et al, Poster Presentation,5th Decennial International Conference on Hospital Acquired Infections, 2010

Copper (Cu) is the most traditional antimicrobial material used throughout time

Copper has been used to sterilize drinking water and treat patients in ancient Egypt and has been found to contribute to the prevention of food poisoning by being used as an ingredient in 19th-century tableware.

History of Antimicrobial Copper Plastic

Antimicrobial Copper

1994   The University of Southampton demonstrated antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against Legionella pneumophila.
     
2000   Antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against Escherichia coli was demonstrated.
     
2006   Antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was demonstrated.
     
2007   Antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against C. difficile was demonstrated.
     
2007   Antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against influenza A (H1N1) was demonstrated.
     
2007   About 300 alloys were registered by the U.S. EPA.
     
2009   Antimicrobial property of copper and copper alloy against VRE was demonstrated.
     
2011   Asan Medical Center in South Korea conducted a laboratory research on MRSA and VRE.
     
2012   Eradication of MRSH was demonstrated.
     
2013   Eradication of norovirus was demonstrated.
     
2014   Suppression of avian influenza (AI) was demonstrated.
     
2015   Inactivation of MERS virus was demonstrated.
     
2020   Inactivation of SARS CoV-2 COVID – 19 spread was demonstrated

Antimicrobial Copper Pathogen Test

 

Acinetobacter baumannii
Adenovirus
Aspergillus niger
Candida albicans
Campylobacter jejuni
Clostridium difficile
Enterobacter aerogenes
Escherichia coli O157:H7
Helicobacter Pylori
Influenza A (H1N1)
Legionella pneumophila
Listeria monocytogenes
Klebsiella pneumoniae
MRSA
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Poliovirus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Salmonella enteritidis
Staphylococcus aureus
Tubercle bacillus
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE)
+many more

Film Products

K Copper Plus Film is available in various sizes as either an adhesive or non-adhesive film as well as heat shrink tubing.

Antimicrobial Copper

Antibacterial copper is a natural occurrence of the antibacterial properties found within copper or copper alloys.

Plastic Products

Semi-permanent 99.9% antimicrobial activity leading the popularization of antimicrobial plastic products.

K Copper Plus

K Copper Plus, the world’s first Covid-19 antivirus antimicrobial copper film.