Antimicrobial Plastics
There has likely been no more disruptive force in business and life than the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, among the steps universally taken to mitigate the spread of the disease, plastic barriers and personal protective equipment have helped restore a sense of normalcy to public and professional life.
Piedmont Plastics is pleased to be able to assist in the fight against the rapid spread of COVID-19 through the use of our high-tech polyester and polycarbonate sheets. These materials have proven invaluable in their use in personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing barriers.
Why Plastics?
Plastics have proven to be an excellent material for almost every industry when it comes to slowing the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. Here are some of the ways materials from Piedmont Plastics have demonstrated their utility:
Sturdiness
Piedmont Plastics provides a broad array of impact-resistant infection prevention products built from solid and multi-wall polycarbonate, PET, PETG, acrylic, HDPE, PVC, and other plastics. These materials can withstand considerable impact and come in various hues and degrees of transparency.
PETG and polycarbonate sheet, in particular, can withstand exposure in many environments and high-traffic areas, resist scratching, and help enforce social distancing requirements in schools, the workplace, and in retail.
Easy To Clean and Disinfect
Plastic sheet is available that has been engineered to resist bacterial growth. These materials are also capable of withstanding harsh chemical disinfectants and cleaners.
These features make plastics easy to clean and disinfect with simple alcohol-based cleansers. In addition, plastic shielding and PPE that are easy to keep clean and free of germs and viruses help keep infections down in hospitals, keep COVID-19 from spreading in restaurants and businesses, and keep children safer in schools.
Simple To Machine
Plastics are easy to shape, mold, cut, drill, saw, mill, and bond using commercially available tools. This makes them perfect for almost any need. Clear plastic sheet are also considerably lighter and easier to install than glass. Many varieties can be cut on-site for quick installation.
PPE, such as facemasks and shields, can be customized to meet specific industry needs. In addition, because plastic materials are so simple and efficient to work with, PPE production can be reasonably quick when demand arises.
Popular Uses For Protective Plastic Sheets
Plastics serve a wealth of industry, personal, medical, and educational needs. Here are some of the most common ways plastics help halt the spread of dangerous diseases.
Partitions and Social Distancing Screens
Translucent multi-wall polycarbonate sheets can be used as dividers in communal areas to help with privacy and infection control. These sheet materials are perfect for use as mobile divider walls in offices and enterprises of all types because they are lightweight, have high impact resistance, and come with a choice of color and transparency options.
Common uses include:
Offices and waiting rooms
Cafeterias
Doctor’s offices
Health clinics
Hospitals
Animal shelters and veterinarian services
Sneeze Guards and Register Shields
Piedmont Plastics provides a variety of high-visibility, scratch-resistant solid sheets produced from polycarbonate and PET that can be used in applications where visibility is essential. These versatile materials may be shaped into virtually any shape or size and are lightweight and easy to thermoform or bend using cold bending techniques. In addition, because these plastics are rated safe for food production facilities, they make an excellent choice for the food service industry.
Common uses include:
Sneeze guards
Restaurant booth dividers
Cash registers
Hotel desks
Reception desks
Lobbies
Personal Protective Equipment
Some professions don’t allow for simple social distancing. For example, individuals working in the medical and service industries must all come into close contact with other people to effectively do their jobs. Covering one’s mouth and nose with a tissue won’t cut it.
Face shields made of transparent, solid sheets of polycarbonate and PET provide an additional layer of protection and help keep COVID-19 and other diseases at bay. They are lightweight, offer high visibility, and resist impact and scratches. In addition, PPE made of transparent plastic can be quickly disinfected with alcohol-based cleansers, and food-grade materials are available for the food processing and service sectors.
Common occupations that benefit from plastic PPE equipment:
Doctors
Nurses
Emergency medical technicians
Phlebotomists
Lab technicians
Cooks
Restaurant servers
COVID-19 Protection and Piedmont Plastics
Piedmont Plastics offers several products for applications ranging from personal protective equipment and temporary or permanent barrier solutions to social distancing floor graphics, window displays, and more.
Products made using acrylic, polycarbonate, PETG, and laminates provide crucial virus protection by preventing the transfer of infectious fluids and diseases from people in close contact, such as doctors and nurses, cashiers, bus drivers, and more. Piedmont Plastics also offers advanced antimicrobial materials that help to reduce bacteria on surfaces significantly.
Reach out to one of Piedmont Plastics’ materials experts today to help find the best solution for all your virus protection needs.