A SELF-CLEANING FOOD CONVEYOR BELT WITH ONGOING ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT CLAIM

Objectives for the phase I effort were distilled after the completion of a gap analysis by the project team. Three key opportunities were defined.Technical Objective 1: Achieve antimicrobial performance of 3-log reduction in 2 hours per EPA Interim Guidance protocol of adding supplemental residual antimicrobial efficacy while also demonstrating resistance to bio adhesion by optimizing synthesis, HDPE melt-blending parameters, and additive loading levels. Successful completion of this objective will provide a polymer additive recipe capable of achieving potency goals while informing loading concentration requirements in HDPE. Technical Objective 2: Demonstrate that molded HDPE+HaloAdd is stable against leaching and that surface halogen can be recharged. Successful completion of this objective will prove functional feasibility and the initial safety of the technology. Technical Objective 3: Verify that material property (tensile, hardness, and impact strength) of molded polymer are improved or retained within 90% of unmodified material. Successful completion of this objective will demonstrate that additives do not impact material feasibility.