PPG Receives EPA Registration for COPPER ARMOR™ Paint Powered by Corning® Guardiant®

Corning® Guardiant® technology is one step closer to commercial availability for consumers in the United States. One of Corning’s crystalizing customers, PPG, recently announced the successful United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) product registration of their PPG COPPER ARMOR™ paint, powered by Corning’s antimicrobial technology. This announcement marks the first EPA-registered paint product with Guardiant available in the United States.

PPG’s Copper Armor contains Corning Guardiant, the first copper anti-microbial additive for architectural paints that reduces bacterial and viral contamination on a painted surface in the United States. The traditional cleaning products that we’ve depended on throughout the pandemic provide what’s known as temporary efficacy against germs. Residual efficacy is important because it adds a new layer of protection that continues to kill viruses and bacteria on surfaces between regular cleanings, which is especially helpful for surfaces like walls that aren’t regularly disinfected.

“We began developing Corning Guardiant several years ago with the belief that copper is the key to delivering truly effective surface protection,” said Joydeep Lahiri, division vice president and program director, Specialty Surfaces. “We’re excited about our partnership with PPG as well as its latest product offering – Copper Armor – which helps to deliver antimicrobial coating technology to the public for added peace of mind.”

The Copper Armor product’s efficacy was measured using tests that simulate real-world contamination that are mandated by the EPA for products making claims against a broad spectrum of harmful pathogens. PPG’s Copper Armor paint with Corning Guardiant technology continuously kills viruses and bacteria within two hours of contact with the painted surface for up to five years, providing a safeguard against harmful microbes on walls, trim, and doors. 

“Corning doesn’t shy away from working in new areas to develop life-changing innovations, and this program is a great example of Corning’s continued commitment to solving tough customer challenges,” said Marty Curran, executive vice president and innovation officer. “Innovation takes a lot of patience, and the Guardiant team’s drive to continue to push this innovation in a space that’s fairly new to the company is very exciting.”

Guardiant technology has also received some recent industry recognitions including a gold Best in Biz International Award for Most Innovative Product of the Year in the healthcare and medical category and a gold win at the 2021 Edison Awards earlier this year. The program is also a finalist for the R&D World’s annual R&D 100 Awards in the Mechanical/Materials category.