Anti-microbial coated devices and methods for making same

Abstract

An anti-microbial coated device includes a device sized and configured for use in a microbe-contaminating environment. The device includes a substrate having a surface configured to be exposed in the microbe contaminating environment. A cold-sprayed anti-microbial coating is deposited on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. The anti-microbial coating includes fused metal particles and having a thickness in a range from 100 nm to 1 mm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for minimizing contamination of food products using an anti-microbial food processing apparatus, comprising:
 providing a food processing facility including food processing machinery having structure that contacts food materials during food processing, the food processing facility comprising one or more surfaces having a substrate comprising a polymer, a natural fiber, or concrete, the substrate having a cold-sprayed anti-microbial coating deposited on at least a portion of the surface area, the anti-microbial coating comprising a continuous layer of copper having a thickness in a range from 100 nm to 5 mm;   exposing the anti-microbial coating to a microbial load, the antimicrobial coating at least partially killing the microbial load.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in claim, wherein the anti-microbial coating includes brass silver, alloys thereof, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in claim, wherein anti-microbial coating is allowed to kill at least 95% of the microbial load. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface includes a portion of a floor or a countertop. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the floor comprises a polymer and/or concrete. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface includes a portion of a floor or a countertop. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the surface is on a food processing apparatus selected from the group consisting of blenders, agitators, mixers, liquifier, paddle blenders, ribbon blenders, screw blenders, mixing bowls, pulpers, juice extractors, filters, evaporators, pumps, driers, boilers, homogenizers, refrigerators, peelers, grinder, emulsifier, slicers, disintigrator, comminution apparatus, washer, molder, chiller, centrifuge, dicer, shredder, wrapping apparatus, pasturizer, cutter, conveyor, compactor, chopper, caser, blower, blancher, bin, lidder, hopper, mill, sheeter, tenderizer, or container. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial coating has a thickness in a range from 500 nm to 5 mm.