WO2014152586A1

WO2014152586A1 - Polymeric materials containing anti-microbial additive

Info

Publication number: WO2014152586A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/027502
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kenneth W. Richards; Brian Woodman
Original assignee: Aspen Research Corporation
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-25

Abstract

Anti-microbial polymeric material and a method for preparing an anti-microbial polymeric material are provided. The anti-microbial polymeric material includes, for example, biopolymers, polymeric alloy materials, and/or articles made therefrom that include an anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can be obtained by compounding an anti-microbial additive (e.g., an ionic metal glass) with a polymeric material so that the ionic metal glass can be dispersed evenly throughout the polymeric material.

Description

POLYMERIC MATERIALS CONTAINING ANTI MICROBIAL ADDITIVE

FIELD

The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to biopolymers, bio-composites and polymeric alloy materials, compositions and/or articles made therefrom that include an antimicrobial additive.

BACKGROUND

Surfaces that come in contact with food stuffs, humans, animals and other bacteria bearing environments can grow bacteria that may be harmful. Cleaners such as anti-microbial additives with a carrier may be topically applied to a contact surface of an article to help to eliminate bacteria.

SUMMARY

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an anti-microbial polymeric material and a method for preparing the anti-microbial polymeric material.

The anti-microbial polymeric material described herein includes, for example, biopolymers, polymeric alloy materials, and/or articles made therefrom that include an anti- microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can be obtained by compounding an anti-microbial additive with a polymeric material.

The embodiments described herein can provide an anti-microbial polymeric material (e.g., polymeric alloys, biopolymers, etc.) where an anti-microbial additive can be evenly distributed and/or dispersed throughout the anti-microbial polymeric material. The anti-microbial polymeric material and/or an article made therefrom can effectively prevent growing of bacteria on a surface thereof.

In the embodiments described herein, an anti-microbial polymeric material is provided, where anti-microbial additive(s) including, for example, an ionic metal glass, can be

compounded into and/or dispersed evenly throughout a polymeric material. The anti-microbial polymeric material described herein can provide continued efficacy for the lifecycle of an article made therefrom regardless of wear and abrasion. The anti-microbial polymeric material can also prevent leaching of the anti-microbial additive(s) from the polymeric material. In some embodiments, the anti-microbial polymeric material may be pigmented without affecting a target color.

In the embodiments described herein, the anti-microbial additive(s) include an ionic metal glass, preferably an ionic silver glass where the ionic silver component is an intimate part of the glass and thus is not leachable.

In some embodiments, polymeric alloy materials incorporating the anti-microbial additive(s) may include, for example, biopolymers, polymer alloys composed of at least one petroleum based polymer and a biopolymer, etc. Additionally the biopolymers and polymeric alloy materials may further incorporate inorganic or organic fillers and/or reinforcing agents.

The anti-microbial additive(s) described herein include ionic metal glass having antimicrobial properties. The ionic metal glass can include, for example, ionic silver glass material, ionic zinc glass material, ionic copper glass material, ionic gold glass material, ionic platinum glass material, a combination thereof, etc. In one embodiment, the ionic metal glass can include an ionic silver glass material. In some embodiments, the anti-microbial additive may be an ionic silver glass manufactured by Addmaster (UK) Ltd., part number Biomaster® 999. Additionally, the ionic silver glass anti-microbial additive does not leach from the compounded polymeric material containing additive and thus further reduces health risk as a result of contact with polymeric material.

The efficacy of anti-microbial additive(s) can be determined via, for example, an ISO

22196 test standard, in eliminating at least 99 % of bacteria in 24 hours from the surface of a molded article of a biomaterial or polymeric alloy compounded with the ionic metal glass antimicrobial material.

In the embodiments described herein, an anti-microbial polymeric material can be used by example for molded and extruded articles, gels, etc. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include an anti-microbial additive of 0.05% to 0.3% ionic silver glass that may be by weight, and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight polymeric material. The polymeric material can include, for example, biopolymer(s), and/or polymer alloy(s). The polymer alloys (s) can include, for example, at least one petroleum based polymer and a biopolymer.The polymeric material can include one or more bio-fiber as filler and reinforcing agent and process additives. Furthermore the anti-microbial additive of 0.05% to 0.3%> ionic silver glass can be compounded to be evenly distributed throughout the polymeric material. The polymeric material may include post- industrial or post-consumer recycled polymer(s).

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include an anti-microbial additive of 0.05%> to 0.3%> by weight ionic silver glass, and 99.95%> to 99.7% by weight of one or more biopolymers. The biopolymers can include, for example, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoic acids (PHA) such as, for example, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and/or other polyesters including, by example only, polybutylene succinic acid (PBS).

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include an anti-microbial additive of 0.05% to 0.3%> by weight ionic silver glass, and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight of one or more polymeric alloy materials. The polymeric alloy materials can include 5% to 95%o by weight of at least one petroleum based polymer or copolymer, and 95%> to 5%> by weight of a biopolymer of the polymeric alloy materials. The biopolymer may include, for example, polylactic acid (PLA), a polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) based polymer, such as by example, PHB, and polyglycolic acid (PGA), and other polyesters including, for example, polybutylene succinic acid (PBS). The petroleum based polymers may include, for example, olefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polyesters, polycarbonate, engineering polymers including, for example, nylon, polyurethane, and polyester, polymers such as, for example, Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polycarbonate (PC)/ABS, urethanes, acrylates, styrenes,

polydimethylsiloxane, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and synthetic rubbers and other elastomeric materials such as thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include an anti-microbial additive of 0.05% to 0.3% by weight of ionic silver glass, 49.95% to 94.95% by weight of a polymeric alloy or biopolymer, and 50%> to 5% by weight of filler or reinforcing agent.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3% by weight of ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight of a thermoplastic polymer suitable for production of film.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%> to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for production of film.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%> to 0.3%) by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for production sheet, tube and rod.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for production sheet, tube and rod.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for molding article(s) by means of, by example only, injection molding, reactive injection molding, blow molding and roto-molding processes.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3%) by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for molding article(s) by means of, by example only, injection molding, reactive injection molding, blow molding and roto-molding processes.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%) to 0.3%) by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7%) by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for profile extruded articles. In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3%) by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7%o by weight a thermoplastic polymer suitable for profile extruded articles.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%> to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95% to 99.7%) by weight a thermoset polymer suitable for thermoset molding.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer material compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3%) by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight a thermoset polymer suitable for thermoset molding.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%) to 0.3%o by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%o to 99.7%) by weight a polymeric adhesive or hot-melt.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05% to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight a polymeric adhesive or hot-melt.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a biopolymer compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%o to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%) to 99.7% by weight a polymeric gel.

In one embodiment, a compounded polymeric material with anti-microbial additive(s) can be compounded by means of a twin screw compounder/extruder.

In one embodiment, an anti-microbial polymeric material can include a polymeric alloy compounded with anti-microbial additive. The anti-microbial polymeric material can include 0.05%) to 0.3% by weight ionic silver glass and 99.95%» to 99.7% by weight a polymeric gel. In one embodiment, a polymeric alloy master batch compounded with anti-microbial additive can include about 0.5% to 3% by weight of ionic silver glass and about 99.5% to 97% by weight of polymeric alloy. The compounded polymeric alloy master batch can be diluted by combining with the same polymeric alloy such that end product polymeric alloy can include about .05% to .3% by weight of the anti-microbial additive.

In one embodiment, a biopolymer master batch compounded with anti-microbial additive can include about 0. 5% to 3% by weight ionic silver glass and about 99.5% to 97% biopolymer by example only, PLA. The compounded biopolymer master batch can be further diluted by combining with the same biopolymer such that end product biopolymer can include about .05% to .3% by weight of the anti-microbial additive.

In another embodiment, a substantially 100 percent solids graft polymerization process is provided. The process can utilize a free radical initiated graft polymerization with bio- substrates. The process does not require any pre-functionalization prior to grafting the biosubstrates that include, for example, polyester based biopolymers such as PLA, PHAs, and succinic acid based copolymers and cellulosic biomaterials such as flax, hemp, and protein based biomaterials such as avian feathers. Anti-microbial polymeric material(s) can be obtained by compounding graft polymerized polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive(s). The obtained anti-microbial polymeric material(s) can include 0.05% to 0.3% by weight of ionic silver glass, and 99.95% to 99.7% by weight of the graft polymerized polymeric material. The graft polymerized polymeric material can include, for example, about 10% to 90% by weight of at least one monomer and an initiator and 90% to 10% by weight of the bio-substrate. The monomers may include, by example only, vinyl-containing monomers that may include, for example, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, styrene, acrylonitrile, vinyl acetate, etc,

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive(s) can be compounded by means of, for example, a twin screw compounder/extruder and may further be pelletized, flaked or output any other form as required.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from pelletized compounded polymeric material with anti-microbial additive may be, by example only, extruded components for pens and pencils In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, covers for electronic devices.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, conveying belts for pharmaceutical, personal healthcare and food processing systems.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, medical devices and implants.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, bottles and containers for pharmaceutical, personal health care and food stuffs.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, handles, door knobs and other devices that are used in opening doors, etc.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with anti- microbial additive may be, by example only, toilet seats and counter surfaces.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, personal healthcare items such as combs, brushes and shaving devices.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with anti- microbial additive may be, by example only, shopping carts and baskets or any of its individual components.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, kitchen utensils, components of such utensils as well as plastic flatware.

In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, polymeric based gloves used for cleaning, medical, laboratory, food preparation and other similar functions. In one embodiment, article(s) produced from compounded polymeric material with antimicrobial additive may be, by example only, eating utensils such as flatware, plates, cups, and bottles.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of stabilizers, as by example but not limited to UV inhibitors, antioxidants, antiozonants, or other stabilizers.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of nucleating agents.

In one embodiment, e compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of compatibilizing agents.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of impact.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of pigments and/or dyes.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of plasticizers and/or tackifiers.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of inorganic fillers, as by example but not limited to glass, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, talc, zinc oxide, and other appropriate fillers as deemed appropriate.

In one embodiment, compounded polymeric material(s) with anti-microbial additive may include the addition of other reinforcing material, for example, nano-tubes, carbon black, plant fibers, fiberglass and/or other reinforcing agents as deemed appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this disclosure and which illustrate the embodiments in which the systems and methods described in this Specification can be practiced.

Fig. 1 illustrates a graph of an antimicrobial efficacy of an anti-microbial polymeric material over time, according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying examples and process data, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of example, specific embodiments in which the methods and systems described herein may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the described systems and methods, and it is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or used separately, or that other embodiments may be used, and that design, implementation, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the methods and systems described herein. The following detailed description provides examples from laboratory development on twin screw compounder/extruder.

The term "polymeric material", as defined herein is inclusive of and may be used interchangeably with "biopolymer" and polymeric alloy" as further defined herein.

The term "biopolymer" as used herein is defined as polymers that may be partially petroleum based or non-petroleum based, include any polyhydroxyalkanoic acid (PHA) based polymers such as PHB, as well as other biopolymers such as by example, polylactic acid (PL A), polyglycolic acid (PGA), and other polyesters including, for example, polybutylene succinic acid (PBS).

The term "polymeric alloys" as used herein is defined as a polymeric material composed of at least one petroleum based polymer and a biopolymer and may further incorporate inorganic or organic fillers and reinforcing agents. Wherein the petroleum based polymers may be at least one or any combination of and by example only and not limited hereto, olefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polyesters; polycarbonate and other engineering polymers as by example nylon, polyurethane, and polyester; and other polymers such as ABS, PC/ABS, urethanes, acrylates, styrenes, polydimethylsiloxane, PVC, and synthetic rubbers and other elastomeric materials such as TPE and TPU.

The term "anti-microbial compound", "anti-microbial additive", "anti-microbial" may be used interchangeably and as used herein is defined as any ionic metal glass that that can be compounded into and evenly distributed in a polymeric material. In one embodiment, the antimicrobial include an ionic silver glass that can be, for example, an ionic silver glass manufactured by Addmaster (UK) Ltd., part number Biomaster® 999. The ionic metal glass can have a particulate size of about 2 to about 5 microns. The composition of the Biomaster®

999 ionic silver glass is known.

In the following examples specific materials were chosen because they are common and easily available. A compatibilizer for the Polypropylene (PP) such as Arkema's Lotader

AX8900 Ethylene Terpolymer could be used for olefin materials such as the polypropylenes and polyethylenes in quantities from about 2% to 5% by weight of the examples as required.

The anti-microbial part number Biomaster® 999, Addmaster, UK was utilized in the examples at about 0.2% by weight but could have been from about 0.05% to about 03% by weight. The percentage used was to achieve an effective efficacy of 99.9%> in 24 hours utilizing, for example, the above mentioned ISO 22196 as test procedure.

Example 1: PMMA/ PLA Alloy with Anti-microbial

A PMMA/ PLA alloy with anti-microbial was compounded on a Coperion zis 30mm co- rotating, intermeshing compounding extruder composed of 49.8% by weight of PMMA HI 2 003 00 CL Acrylite, 50% by weight Ingeo 4060D PLA and 0,2% by weight of Biomaster® 999 ionic silver glass anti-microbial and no compatibilizer required. The revolutions per minute (RPM) was set at 230, melt temperature at 225 with a die pressure of 51 psi. The material was tested resulting in a density of 1.0927, an MFR of 6.071, and calculated viscosity of 1227.7 Pa-sec.

Example 2: ABS / PLA alloy with Anti-microbial

An ABS/ PLA alloy with anti-microbial was compounded on a Coperion zis 30mm co- rotating, intermeshing compounding extruder composed of 25% by weight of ABS MG47 NA -

1000 natural, 74.8% by weight of Ingeo 4060D PLA and 0.2% by weight of Biomaster® 999 ionic silver glass anti-microbial and no compatibilizer required. The RPM was set at 215, melt temperature at 210 with a die pressure of 48 psi. The material was tested resulting in a density of 0.9869, an MFR of 18.375, and calculated viscosity of 575.0 Pa-sec. Example 3: PP / PLA alloy with Anti-microbial

A PP/ PLA alloy with anti-microbial was compounded on a Coperion zis 30mm co- rotating, intermeshing compounding extruder composed of 50% by weight PP SG722 (25 melt NB), 49.8% by weight Ingeo 4060D PLA and 0.2% by weight Biomaster® 999 ionic silver glass anti-microbial and no compatibilizer required. The RPM was set at 205, melt temperature at 200 with a die pressure of 33 psi. The material was tested resulting in a density of 0.8157, an MFR of 72.749, and calculated viscosity of 132.0 Pa-sec.

Example 4: An ISO 22196/201 1 anti-microbial efficacy test of the examples 1-3 provided above was performed. Each of the examples 1 -3 was inoculated with a nutrient mix having a known amount of bacteria. The test determined the percentage of living bacteria over a twenty four hour period. These samples were kept in optimal conditions for bacterial growth (e.g., 37 °C) for the duration of the twenty four hours. The bacteria used in the test include Methicillin-Resistant

Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Table 1 below provides the results of this test along with the percentage of living bacteria operating under the same conditions of the ISO 22196/201 1 anti-microbial efficacy test without being inoculated into one of the examples 1 -3 provided above.

Table 1 :

Fig. 1 illustrates a graph of the ISO 22196/2011 anti-microbial efficacy test described above. As shown in the graph, an anti-microbial polymeric material inoculated with a nutrient mix that includes a known amount of bacteria is able to kill about 99.9% of the bacteria within a twenty four hour time period (see plot 410). In comparison, when the same nutrient mix that includes a known amount of bacteria is kept under the same conditions but without being inoculated within an anti-microbial polymeric material, the percentage of living bacteria remains the about same during the entire twenty four hour time period (see plot 420).

Aspects:

It is noted that any of aspects 1-14, 15 and 16 can be combined.

1. A composite comprising:

a polymeric material; and

an effective amount of an anti-microbial additive.

2. The composite of aspect 1, wherein the effective amount of the anti-microbial additive is an amount effective for reducing bacteria content by 99.9% within a twenty four hour time period under an ISO 22196 test standard. 3. The composite of any of aspects 1-2, wherein the anti-microbial polymeric material is dispersed in the polymeric material so as to prevent leaching of the anti-microbial additive from the polymeric material.

4. The composite of any of aspects 1-3, wherein the polymeric material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a biopolymer; a bio-composite; and a polymeric alloy.

5. The composite of any of aspects 1-4, wherein the anti-microbial polymeric material includes 99.95% to 99.7% by weight of the polymeric material and .05% to 0.3% by weight of the anti-microbial additive. 6. The composite of any of aspects 1-5, wherein the anti-microbial additive includes an ionic silver glass.

7. The composite of any of aspects 1-6, wherein the polymeric material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: polylactic acid (PLA); polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB);

polyglycolic acid (PGA); polybutylene succinic acid (PBS); polypropylene; polyethylene;

polycarbonate; nylon; polyurethane; polyester; Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS);

Polycarbonate (PC)/ABS; urethane; acrylate; styrene; polydimethylsiloxane; Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); synthetic rubber; thermoplastic elastomer (TPE); and thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

8. The composite of any of aspects 1-7, further comprising a filler.

9. The composite of aspect 8, wherein the filler is an inorganic filler and the inorganic filler includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: glass; calcium carbonate; calcium sulfate; talc; and zinc oxide.

10. The composite of any of aspects 1-9, further comprising a reinforcing material.

1 1. The composite of aspect 10, wherein the reinforcing material is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a nano-tube; a carbon black; a plant fiber; and a fiberglass.

12. The composite of any of aspects 1-1 1, further comprising a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: an ultraviolet (UV) inhibitor; an antioxidant; and an antiozonant.

13. The composite of any of aspects 1-12, wherein the anti-microbial additive includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a pigment; and a dye.

14. An article of manufacture comprising the composite of any of aspects 1-13. 15. A method for manufacturing an anti-microbial polymeric material, the method comprising:

compounding a polymeric material with an anti-microbial additive using a compounding extruder.

16. A method of reducing bacterial growth comprising:

adding an effective amount of an anti-microbial additive to a polymeric material.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or novel characteristics thereof. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A composite comprising:

a polymeric material; and

an effective amount of an anti-microbial additive.

2. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the anti-microbial additive is an amount effective for reducing bacteria content by 99.9% within a twenty four hour time period under an ISO 22196 test standard.

3. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial polymeric material is dispersed in the polymeric material so as to prevent leaching of the anti-microbial additive from the polymeric material.

4. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a biopolymer; a bio-composite; and a polymeric alloy.

5. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial polymeric material includes 99.95% to 99.1% by weight of the polymeric material and .05%) to 0.3%> by weight of the antimicrobial additive.

6. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial additive includes an ionic silver glass.

7. The composite of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: polylactic acid (PLA); polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB); polyglycolic acid (PGA); polybutylene succinic acid (PBS); polypropylene; polyethylene; polycarbonate; nylon; polyurethane; polyester; Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); Polycarbonate (PC)/ABS; urethane; acrylate; styrene; polydimethylsiloxane; Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); synthetic rubber; thermoplastic elastomer (TPE); and thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU).

8. The composite of claim 1, further comprising a filler.

9. The composite of claim 8, wherein the filler is an inorganic filler and the inorganic filler includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: glass; calcium carbonate; calcium sulfate; talc; and zinc oxide.

10. The composite of claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing material.

1 1. The composite of claim 10, wherein the reinforcing material is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a nano-tube; a carbon black; a plant fiber; and a fiberglass.

12. The composite of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizer, wherein the stabilizer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: an ultraviolet (UV) inhibitor; an antioxidant; and an antiozonant.

13. The composite of claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial additive includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a pigment; and a dye.

14. An article of manufacture comprising the composite of claim 1.

15. A method for manufacturing an anti-microbial polymeric material, the method comprising:

16. A method of reducing bacterial growth comprising: