Aug 21, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

South Carolina Resin and Fiber Manufacturer Ascend Performance Materials Hosts Rep. Joe Wilson During District Stop in Aiken

Ascend Performance Materials had the opportunity to welcome Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) during a district bus tour recently in Aiken, S.C., to provide a briefing about the company’s new Acteev™ antimicrobial technology, currently in use in non-woven and fabric masks and textile applications. The technology can be used in numerous applications, including textiles, and provides a first line of defense against microbes and other pathogens.

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Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) wearing an Acteev Protect face mask during his stop to learn about Ascend's anti-microbial technology. (Photo: Business Wire).

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) wearing an Acteev Protect face mask during his stop to learn about Ascend's anti-microbial technology. (Photo: Business Wire).

“American innovation, like Acteev, will help us fight this pandemic, reopen schools and businesses, and restart the economy,” said Representative Wilson. “Over the course of our bus tour of the district, I met with organizations and businesses that are making a difference during these unprecedented times. It’s clear that South Carolina has the tools to help lead our nation out of this.”

Ascend’s Acteev technology combines antimicrobial zinc ions with polyamide-based woven, nonwoven and knit fabrics. The active zinc ions are embedded into the polymer matrix, providing a long-lasting solution that does not wash away, unlike topical finishes or coatings. The polyamide fabrics are durable yet soft to the skin and keep out unwanted particles.

“We appreciate the support and dedication Congressman Wilson put into meeting with Ascend and particularly, the hard work he does on behalf of South Carolinians,” said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “We have a long history of creating products that make cars and appliances safer, like the airbag fibers produced in our South Carolina plant. Our Acteev technology carries that history forward.”

Recent testing completed at the University of Cambridge has demonstrated that Acteev technology deactivates the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, instantly, upon contact with 99.9% efficacy.

Acteev Protect™ masks are currently being sold through independent partners globally; Ascend is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other governmental agencies to obtain the appropriate regulatory protocols to make specific claims regarding the technology’s antiviral properties.

For more information, to request a sample or to see performance data, please visit ascendmaterials.com/acteevprotect.

About Acteev

  • Tests show >99% antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal efficacy
  • EPA-registered zinc ions embedded in the polymer
  • Hygroscopic nylon 6,6 fabric attracts moisture, which activates the zinc ions
  • Not a topical treatment or coating
  • Not dependent on silver, copper
  • Proven efficacy in many end forms:
    • Knit and woven fabrics for consumer textiles, upholstery, uniforms, face masks
    • Nanofiber, meltblown and spunbond nonwovens for filtration
    • Fibers for carpets
    • Engineered plastics for high-touch surfaces

DISCLAIMER: Acteev™ technology has been shown in laboratory tests to destroy SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and other pathogens including H1N1, coronavirus 229E and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria such as staphylococcus and E. coli. All data presented on this page comes from testing performed by independent third-party laboratories following the protocols of ISO, ASTM or other international standards organizations. Not all claims are permitted in all jurisdictions, including in the United States. Some device designs currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — submission number K201714. Ascend has more than 15 patent families pending on Acteev technology.

About Ascend Performance Materials

Ascend Performance Materials makes high-performance materials for everyday essentials and new technologies. Our focus is on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. Based in Houston, Texas, and with regional offices in Shanghai, Brussels and Detroit, we are a fully integrated material solutions provider with eight global manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe and China. Our 2,600-person global workforce makes the plastics, fabrics, fibers and chemicals used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability and the success of our customers and our communities.

Find out more about Ascend at www.ascendmaterials.com.