All selected coatings contain nutrients that support microbial growth and survival. Incorporation of microbiocidal agents into coatings more susceptible to attack is recommended for improved inhibition of microorganism growth and for increased protection against deterioration of coatings by microorganisms

Cooper, C. W.

Kemp, H. T.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

DAugust 1971
	 Brief 71-10310 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the, Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Investigation to Identify Paint Coatings Resistive

to Microorganism Growth 
An investigation was conducted to identify micro-
bial-resistive paints or varnishes among the formula-
tions used or evaluated for use as coatings on external 
surfaces of spacecraft. Spacecraft coatings are applied 
for various purposes, including passive thermal con-
trol, ionizing and optical radiation protection, radar 
reflectance, and protection of underlying metal sur-
faces from oxidation and corrosion. In addition 
to meeting the special property requirements of 
these particular purposes, the coatings must have 
excellent adhesion, stability to thermal fluxes, and 
resistance to erosion from rain droplets and atmos-
pheric particles. 
Previously (NASA Tech Brief 69-10181), 166 coat-
ing formulations (most commonly, silicones and 
silicates) had been identified and characterized with 
respect to chemical and physical properties. Of the 
166 formulations, 17 were subsequently selected 
as being representative of the coatings applied 
externally on spacecraft. The selected coatings were 
applied to carefully prepared aluminum alloy 
rods and evaluated in the laboratory to determine 
whether they were resistant to microbial attack and 
whether nutrients from the coatings were available 
for the growth of microorganisms. It was found 
that all of the coatings contained nutrients that 
would support microbial growth or would allow 
survival of two or more species studied. Some of the 
coatings, e.g., fungicide-containing varnishes, a phe-
nolic butyrate, and a polyimide, appeared to be some-
what resistant to microbial attack, while epoxy, 
acrylic, silicone, silicate and polyurethane formula-
tions, respectively, in decreasing order of resistance, 
appear to be more susceptible to attack. 
The incorporation of suitable microbiocidal 
agents into selected coatings from the latter group 
is recommended for improved inhibition of micro-
organism growth and for increased protection against 
deterioration of the coatings by microorganisms. Re-
search based on this recommendation could lead 
to the formulation of antimicrobial coatings for 
walls and equipment in hospitals and food process-
ing plants, and the development of reusable, sterile 
polymer containers. 
Note: 
The following documentation may be obtained 
from:
National Technical Information Service 
Springfield, Virginia 22151 
Single document price $3.00 
(or microfiche $0.95) 
Reference: 
NASA-CR-1 11524 (N71-13017), Investi-
gation of Spacecraft Materials that Support 
Microorganism Growth 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA 
Source: H. T. Kemp and C. W. Cooper of

Battelle Memorial Institute
under contract to

Marshall Space Flight Center

(M FS-20458) 
Category 04 
This documeft was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710000308 2020-03-17T02:21:34+00:00Z


Investigation to identify paint coatings resistive to microorganism growth

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