Zurich-based HeiQ has introduced HeiQ Viroblock NPJ03, an antiviral and antimicrobial textile treatment that has shown during face mask testing to be effective against human coronavirus (229E). The treatment — a combinationof vesicle and silver technologies designed to inhibit the growth and persistence of bacteria and viruses — reduces the infectiveness of the virus more than 99.99 percent. According to HeiQ, China-based mask producer Suzhou Bolisi has adopted Viroblock and will have treated masks available as early as April, while other international textile producers are evaluating Viroblock for use on other types of textile products.
“Virologist Dr. Thierry Pelet of HeiQ’s Scientific Advisory Board brought us a depth of knowledge and accelerated our efforts to address the urgent problem of a global
pandemic,” said Carlo Centonze, HeiQ Group CEO. “Our goal is to prevent textiles from becoming a host surface for propagating harmful viruses and bacteria and contribute to reduce the risk and speed of contamination and transmission.”
March/April 2020
