Given the demonstrated antimicrobial properties of copper, it is incumbent upon materials scientists to design potent antimicrobial copper-containing stainless steels as an economical option. In this digital-first article from Advanced Materials & Processes, ASM International’s flagship magazine, Yip-Wah Chung, FASM, and his team from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., share their research and patent-pending process for adding copper to stainless steels to impart antimicrobial benefits. This ground-breaking research could have many applications as concerns around surface transmission of bacteria and viruses continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the full digital-first article, which will also be published in the September 2020 issue of Advanced Materials & Processes (AM&P) magazine.
This article is the third installment in an AM&P series on materials science and the coronavirus.
About the Authors
The interdisciplinary team from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. includes:
- Olivia Barber, graduate student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Arman Khan, graduate student, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Erica M. Hartmann, assistant professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Dieter Isheim, research associate professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Semyon Vaynman, research professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Qian Jane Wang, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Yip-Wah Chung, FASM, professor, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
************
About ASM International
ASM International is a member-driven organization that serves the information needs of scientists, engineers, and technicians who develop, test, select, and apply advanced materials, including metals, composites, polymers, and ceramics. As the world’s largest and most established materials information society, ASM engages and connects members to a global network of peers and provides access to trusted materials information through reference content and data, education courses, international events, and applied research.
To learn more about ASM International, visit asminternational.org or call 440.671.3800 to speak with an ASM International representative.
Image –Two sets of strawberries, one placed on copper mesh and the other on plastic, both at room temperature. From top: (a) starting condition; (b) after 24 hours; and (c) after 43 hours. Note mold development on strawberry placed on plastic and its absence on strawberries placed on copper after 43 hours. Courtesy of Prof. Q.J. Wang.
************
For more information:
Yip-Wah Chung, FASM
[email protected]
Previous articles in the Materials Science and the Coronavirus Series:
Can Copper Help Fight COVID-19?
Copper’s Conductivity and Antimicrobial Properties Inspire Renewed Interest
