FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the nature of SilverClear®?
SilverClear® consists of a novel slightly soluble silver molecule, along with a combination of other components (including a mix of polymers), in suspension in purified water.
How can SilverClear® be applied to fabrics?
SilverClear® is applied to fabrics during the final stages of finishing, just before drying.
SilverClear® is most commonly applied with a pad, but can also be applied with a kiss-roll, spray or an exhaust system.
For optimal wash durability of the SilverClear® treatment, the finished substrate should be dried at 120°C (or 248°F), and cured for at least 20 seconds at 170°C to 180°C (338°F to 356°F).
What types of fabrics (fiber composition) can SilverClear® be applied to?
SilverClear® can be applied to all woven and non-woven-fabrics made up of any natural and man-made fibers, including aramids.
The effectiveness of the treatment is directly related to how much of the treatment ends up on the fabric after the treatment. Some fibers (such as polyesters) “pick-up” less of the treatment than others (such as cotton) – in these cases, the concentration of SilverClear® in the pad must be higher to ensure that a sufficient quantity of the treatment ends-up on the fabric.
Does SilverClear® have any effect on the color or feel of a treated fabric?
Once properly applied and cured as directed, SilverClear® is completely transparent and does not affect the color or hand of the treated fabrics.
How durable is the SilverClear® treatment?
Where most other antimicrobial treatments on the market limit their claims to 20 or 30 home launderings (sometimes 50 under optimal conditions), SilverClear® easily performs through 50 industrial launderings (a much tougher standard than home launderings). Some clients report continued performance through as many as 100 hospital launderings (even tougher than industrial launderings) – no antimicrobial treatment on the market is more durable.
Can SilverClear® be co-applied with fluorocarbon treatments – such as water repellents, oil repellents and stain release – as well as other finishing treatments in a one-step process (i.e. SilverClear® and other treatments mixed together in the pad)?
SilverClear® has been shown to be compatible with every fluorocarbon, as well as every other common finishing chemical, used to date by our customers. That said, compatibility should be confirmed for any new finishing process and thoroughly tested before proceeding.
Typically, SilverClear® is mixed with other treatments in the pad bath, and all are applied at the same time.
SilverClear® should NOT be applied onto a textile after a water-resistant finish has already been applied.
Is SilverClear® compatible with durable press resins? Can it be co-applied with the resin in the same bath?
Though SilverClear® has been shown to be compatible with common cross linking resins, such compatibility should be confirmed before proceeding.
The SilverClear® solution is usually mixed with other treatments in the pad bath, and all are applied at the same time.
What types of solvents is SilverClear® compatible with?
SilverClear® is compatible with water, as well as polar solvents (such as alcohols and acids).
Are there any limitations on using SilverClear® with certain fabric colors (especially whites)? Does the treatment yellow during curing?
The SilverClear® treatment remains transparent throughout the life of the treated article.
All fabrics are generally vulnerable to discoloration over time, SilverClear® does not noticeably accelerate this process.
After application, does the use of bleaches (household and industrial) during laundering negatively affect the antimicrobial efficacy of the SilverClear® treatment or on the stability of the colour?
The use of bleaches during laundering will not result in an accelerated degradation of the antimicrobial efficacy of a properly applied and cured SilverClear® treatment.
How is SilverClear® proven to work?
SilverClear® dressings are registered with Health Canada as Class 2 Medical Instruments. They are used in hospitals as well as health, oncology and radiation oncology centers across Canada to treat chronic wounds, radiodermatitis and severe burns.
SilverClear® solution is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States as an antimicrobial treatment on textiles.
SilverClear® has been tested on a wide range of textiles using methods developed by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC).
The AATCC 147 test ("Antibacterial activity assessment of textile materials: parallel streak method") showed that textiles treated with SilverClear®display no signs of bacterial activity. The Gram-positive and Gram-negative germs are neutralized on the surface treated with the product and within a surrounding radius of several millimeters.
The AATCC 100 test ("Assessment of antibacterial finishes on textile materials") showed that 100% of bacteria are destroyed on textiles treated with SilverClear®.
SilverClear® has proven very effective antimicrobial performance against various pathogen bacteria such as S.Aureus, P.Aeruginosa, E. Coli, C. Difficile, and others.