Ceramic glaze having antimicrobial property

Abstract

An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition contains one or more antimicrobial agents disposed therein. Methods for making and using the glazing composition are disclosed, as well as substrates having a fired antimicrobial glaze thereon. The antimicrobial agents comprise metallic oxides, with a subset of the disclosed combinations exhibiting synergistic effect in fired glazes.

1 . An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
 a ceramic glaze base; and   an antimicrobial composition including:
 a first antimicrobial agent consisting of Ag 2 CO 3 ; and 
 a second antimicrobial agent that is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO, SnO 2 , TiO 2  or ZnO; 
   wherein the first antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about two to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition; and   wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of from about two percent to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition.   
   
   
       2 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 1  wherein the second antimicrobial agent is Bi 2 O 3 . 
   
   
       3 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 1  wherein the second antimicrobial agent is ZnO. 
   
   
       4 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 1  wherein the first antimicrobial agent and the second antimicrobial agent are present in the glaze composition at substantially equal concentrations. 
   
   
       5 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent in the glaze composition is about two percent;
 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is one of Bi 2 O 3 , CuO, SnO 2  or ZnO.   
   
   
       6 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of the first antimicrobial agent in the glaze composition is about four percent; and
 wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about two percent.   
   
   
       7 . An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
 a ceramic glaze base; and   an antimicrobial composition including:
 a first antimicrobial agent consisting of Bi 2 O 3 , and 
 a second antimicrobial agent consisting of ZnO; 
   wherein the first antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of from about two percent to about four percent; and   wherein the second antimicrobial agent has a concentration of from about two percent to about four percent.   
   
   
       8 . An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
 a ceramic glaze base; and   a synergistic antimicrobial composition including a first antimicrobial agent and a second antimicrobial agent, the antimicrobial composition being one of:
 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +2% Bi 2 O 3 , 
 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +2% CuO, 
 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +4% SnO 2 , 
 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +2% ZnO, 
 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +4% ZnO, 
 2% Bi 2 O 3 +2% CuO, 
 2% Bi 2 O 3 +4% CuO, 
 2% CuO+4% Ag 2 CO 3 , 
 2% CuO+4% SnO 2 , 
 2% CuO+2% TiO 2 , 
 2% CuO+4% TiO 2 , 
 2% CuO+4% ZnO, 
 2% SnO 2 +4% Ag 2 CO 3 , 
 2% SnO 2 +4% CuO, 
 2% TiO 2 +4% Ag 2 CO 3 , 
 2% TiO 2 +4% CuO, 
 2% ZnO+4% Ag 2 CO 3 , or 
 2% ZnO+4% CuO. 
   
   
   
       9 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 8  wherein the synergistic antimicrobial combination is 2% Ag 2 CO 3 +2% ZnO. 
   
   
       10 . An antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
 a ceramic glaze base; and   an antimicrobial composition including:
 a first antimicrobial agent consisting of Bi 2 O 3 ; and 
 a second antimicrobial agent consisting of ZnO; 
   wherein the first antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of about one percent to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition; and   wherein the second antimicrobial agent is present in the glaze composition at a concentration of from about one percent to about four percent, by weight of glaze composition.   
   
   
       11 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 10  wherein:
 the first antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of about two percent; and   the second antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the glazing composition of from about two percent to about four percent.   
   
   
       12 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 10 , further comprising a third antimicrobial agent consisting of Ag 2 CO 3 ;
 wherein the first antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of from about one percent to about two percent;   wherein the second antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the glazing composition of from about one percent to about two percent; and   wherein the third antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glazing composition of from about one percent to about two percent.   
   
   
       13 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first antimicrobial agent, second antimicrobial agent and third antimicrobial agent each has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of about one percent.   
   
   
       14 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 12  wherein:
 the first antimicrobial agent, second antimicrobial agent and third antimicrobial agent each has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of about two percent.   
   
   
       15 . The antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition of  claim 12  wherein:
 at least one of the first antimicrobial agent and the second antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of about two percent; and   the third antimicrobial agent has a concentration in the ceramic glaze composition of about one percent.   
   
   
       16 . A glazed ceramic substrate, comprising:
 a ceramic substrate having a first substrate surface; and   a fired ceramic glazing composition disposed on the first substrate surface;   wherein the ceramic glazing composition is the ceramic glazing composition of one of  claims 1  or  7 .   
   
   
       17 . A glazed ceramic substrate, comprising:
 a ceramic substrate having a first substrate surface; and   a fired synergistic antimicrobial composition disposed on the first substrate surface;   wherein the synergistic antimicrobial composition is the ceramic glazing composition of  claim 8 .   
   
   
       18 . A glazed ceramic substrate, comprising:
 a ceramic substrate having a first substrate surface; and   a fired synergistic antimicrobial composition disposed on the first substrate surface;   wherein the synergistic antimicrobial composition is the ceramic glazing composition of one of  claim 10  or  12 .   
   
   
       19 . A method for manufacturing a glazed ceramic substrate, comprising:
 applying an antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition to a ceramic substrate; and   firing the glazing composition to transform the glazing composition into a fired state;   wherein the antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition includes an antimicrobial composition as recited in one of  claims 1 ,  7 ,  10  or  12 .   
   
   
       20 . A method for manufacturing an antimicrobial ceramic glazing composition, comprising:
 providing a ceramic glaze base;   adding to the ceramic glaze base an antimicrobial composition that is one of:
 the antimicrobial composition of  claim 1 , 
 the antimicrobial composition of  claim 7 , 
 the synergistic antimicrobial composition of  claim 8 , 
 the antimicrobial composition of  claim 10 , or 
 the antimicrobial composition of  claim 12 ; 
   milling the ceramic glaze base and added antimicrobial composition;   rehydrating the milled ceramic glaze base; and   optionally, remixing the rehydrated glaze base.