by S. Kenneth Shishir
Mysore :
Most of us are unaware that silver has been used as anti-microbial agent in our daily lives without realising this. For example, the silver plates our elders used to eat their meals in, silver tumbler for con-sumption of water. If we look around Silver has always been referred to in a positive aspect; Every cloud has a silver lining; Silver bullet; think silver etc.
We all know that silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal, which possess the highest electrical con-ductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. The metal which occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver) is used in manufacturing jewellery and other articles.
During Medieval times, from Romans to Persians and even our own Raja of Jaipur used to carry water in silver containers. They used silver in one form or the other to help in keeping themselves healthy.
But in recent years, silver is being used in medical sector and is used as disinfectant and micro-biocides and for burn care as creams and ointments. While many medical anti-microbial uses of silver have been supplanted by antibiotics, further research into clinical potential continues due to presence of many anti-biotic resistant bacteria. Silver is an inherently immune Noble metal to virtually all pathological bacterium found including MRSA, VRE, Acinatobacter, etc.
Action of silver against bacteria is multi-pronged attack. First, it cleaves the cell wall then disrupts the breathing mechanism of bacteria. Finally it binds to the DNA assuring total kill of the bacteria and no chance of resistance to silve.r
City based industry Ag Flex Technologies Ltd., an ISO 9001-2008 Export oriented unit at Hebbal Industrial Area in city has been into this process since many years and is now supplying silver coated materials to Industries manufacturing health care products such as wound dressings, therapy socks for regular wear and Diabetic wear and other textiles related products.
Satish N. Chandra, CEO and MD, Ag Flex Technologies Pvt. Ltd. who, along with his brother N.S. Prasad started the industry in city in 2008 and the industry was fully functional in the year 2009. It took them over 3 years to get various approvals from their customers who have been testing it continuously to assure themselves of the quality and longevity of the products which are branded as Flexsil.
Satish, speaking to SOM said that they started the industry in Mysore as it was the home town of his father and because of availability of natural resources and smart interactive labour.
He said that our goal is to bring commonsense science using the most commonly used delivery medium in the world -textiles. The focus of our group of highly dedicated scientists and innovative business development team is application based product line, from healthcare to home goods with everything in between cutting across Consumer, Industrial and Institutional arenas.
He said that they were trying to put science to work by creating sustainable silver solutions which was essential for better, safer and healthier life of the people.
Ag Flex offers a wide range of innovative products and services through its silver metalized fibres and yarns for markets including Military, Health Care, Consumer and Home Products.
He said that silver coated yarns used in the manufacture of socks and sportswear inhibits the growth of odour causing bacteria and neutrali-ses odour causing ammonia. It is also used in surgical dressings because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. A clinical trial is being undertaken at a multi- specialty hospital in city. The silver coated yarn is now being used in the sportswear of cyclists to prevent odour, fungal and bacterial infections due to sweat.
Satish said that many multi-national companies were working with them and they would release the products soon.
Some of their major clients are Toyota, Yamaha and Panasonic in Japan and their manufacturing partners for socks are in Turkey and Bangalore. Currently, tests are going on at a prominent University in Japan for checking flow of blood in lungs to determine if lungs are working well. This will help immensely as there is no need for X-ray, Doppler, etc. which are momentary tests. With this new technology one can be monitored round the clock to see lung function. Their aim is to have multiple sensors using the very conductive Flexsil products to help get a 3D view of the lung function. This indeed will be a real game changer for pulmonary diagnosis.
Ag Flex also plans to use similar technology to monitor blood sugar levels without invasive actions. This is something down the line but certainly on the radar of Ag Flex. The conductive properties of Flexsil are also used for various anti-static applications and for what is called as “Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) Shielding.” This will enable one to be protected against harmful radiation from various electronic devices. For example, for pregnant ladies EMI Shielding inner-wear will be offered to protect the foetus from being exposed to dangerous radiation from every day appliances to instrumentation. This effect was shown by wrapping a mobile phone with Flexsil and when one tried to call the number the phone was “not-reachable” though the phone was very much on. Once the fabric was removed the phone functioned normally.
All these products can sustain laundry cycles and yet maintain their efficacy. Ag Flex has tested data after 100 commercial laundry cycles without dimini-shing the properties. Hence they say that their product is good for the life of the finished goods.
Besides manufacturing silver coated yarn the company also supplies silver in other forms too. Actimist, a sanitizer spray which also uses silver and will be available in the market soon. Test data from Japan shows reduction of anti-biotic resistant bacteria called as MRSA, E.Coli and Salmonella by 99.99999% in one minute. This is something Ag Flex is very proud of since this is their proprietary technology and can be used on any hard surfaces at home, hospitals, public places and even on one’s hands as sanitizer. Actimist also controls offensive odours without perfumes as perfumes may cause allergic reaction to many individuals.
Ag Flex also makes metalized foam (sponge) which is used for both anti-microbial and EMI Shielding applications. These foam when metalized with Silver are so unique that when you cut the foam you can see the silver coating uniformly even in the inner layers of the foam
Ag Flex also houses a beautiful garden where they have flowers, fruits and vegetables using treated water from process. The water used in highly purified as their process requires this. For this, they use complex and multi-step purification process. As they make very good water they also use the same for their drinking purposes.
Inside the tank Satish showed SOM a silver metalized sleeve which has helped in keeping the water fresh even when not used for many days.
Satish said that the mission at Ag Flex Technologies is to be a world class silver solution provider for anti-microbial and conductive applications and is committed to achieve this goal by being environ-mentally responsible and offering innovative products in an ethical manner.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / January 18th, 2014