Ice-Machine-Guide.com

Microbes, including bacteria and fungi, are found everywhere: on our hands, in the water we drink, and in the air we breathe. A microbe’s primary goal in life is to find a surface rich in nutrients and attach to it. Once attached, they set up shop on a surface and begin to grow and divide over a period of weeks and months. A by-product of this microbial growth on a surface is the production of exopolymers commonly referred to as “slime” throughout the industry. The exopolymer or “slime” serves to provide an ideal living environment for the microbes. A more technical term for “slime” is biofilm, commonly found in moist environments such as bathtubs and showers, as well as the inside of ice machines. The goal of antimicrobial technology such as AlphaSan and AgION is to keep the plastic surfaces of an ice machine cleaner by reducing ore delaying the formation of biofilm.

The active ingredient in AlphaSan and AgION is the element silver in the form of silver ions (Ag+). AlphaSan and AgION slowly release silver ions via an ion exchange mechanism. When AlphaSan and AgION are compounded directly into a plastic part, a controlled release of silver ions from the surface is regulated to maintain an effective concentration at or near the surgace of the plastic ice machine part. AlphaSan, which is the technology of Manitowoc’s ice machines, achieves this compound without discoloring the affected plastic part. AgION bonded plastics appear light brown from the chemical compounding process. Both technologies inhibit the growth of bacteria for the life of the part.

(Published by Manitowoc Ice, 2003)