METHODS OF MAINTAINING AND USING A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF DISSOLVED COPPER ON THE SURFACE OF A USEFUL ARTICLE

摘要

A method for maintaining and using a high concentration of dissolved copper on a surface of a useful article by providing a copper surface without coatings thereon which increase the wetting angle and which isolate the copper surface and which has a surface roughness between 2 and 50 micro inches Ra, so as to kill microbes thereon.

主权项

1. A product comprising:
a copper alloy comprising a contact surface which provides copper ions or produces a copper oxide, or both, said contact surface having a roughness of between about 6 and about 14 microinches Ra; wherein the contact surface is not coated with a polymer finish, barrier coating, tarnish inhibitor, oil, grease, or wax; and wherein the contact surface has a lower contact angle, a higher rate of copper evolution into aqueous solution, and a higher rate of microbial inactivation, as compared to a copper alloy contact surface coated with benzotriazole.