AK Steels has recently introduces AgION, an antimicrobial coating for carbon and stainless steels. The product was developed in response to an increasing demand for microbe resistant materials over the last few years.

The AgION coating is going to be available from AK Coatings, a spin off from AK Steel. The will also be making a limited number of agreements available so that the coatings can be sourced from other shop coaters, paint manufacturers and coil coaters.

The coatings consist of an inorganic silver ion based material incorporating zeolite. In the presence of moisture, the zeolite behaves as an ion pump releasing silver ions at a controlled rate.

The AgION compound is combined with a paint system and can be applied to steel in a conventional manner. As such it is available as a clear, tinted or pigmented paint.

Applications for AgION are wide ranging and include things such as heating and ventilation ducts, food processing equipment and medical applications.