Frequently Asked Questions

PREXELENT™ is a new, patented method of mixing an antimicrobial active agent with a thermoplastic. The active agent is based on pine tree rosin, which has been used in medical practice since antiquity. It is non-toxic to human beings, and it does not affect the recyclability of the plastic. PREXELENT™ can be used in many kinds of products and applications where harmful microbes need to be kept at bay. 

PREXELENT™ is a method of mixing an antimicrobial active agent with plastic. At a chemically controlled rate, the active agent migrates to the material’s surface, where it is activated by humidity or liquid. The release rate of the active agent can be modified to meet the needs of different applications.

Antimicrobial plastics have been studied and developed for a long time, but most of the solutions are based on coating the plastic, and none of them has made a breakthrough on the market. We took a different road. Dr. Ville Mylläri tested mixing rosin with thermoplastics with good results. When the results of this research were combined with Premix's know-how in producing new kinds of plastic, PREXELENT™ was born.

Premix Group is the house of functional plastics with a forerunner DNA. PREXELENT™ is the newest innovation in our portfolio, a sustainable, recyclable, and natural choice to meet our clients' needs for next-generation applications. 

We see many different types of applications for PREXELENT™, as it can be used anywhere where microbes need to be kept at bay. During the coronavirus pandemic, it could be used to keep safe those surfaces that different people frequently touch, such as counter desks, keypads, or touch screens. It is also a solution for shopping baskets, thermoplastic handles, toys, and other objects. 

PREXELENT™'s efficacy has been certified in the following studies: 

• Antimicrobial according to ISO 22196;2011 in VTT Technology Research Centre of Finland 
• Antiviral properties using human coronavirus in Jyväskylä University, Finland 
• Antiviral properties using Sars-Cov2 in Helsinki University, Finland 
• ISO 10993-10:2010 - Tests for irritation and skin sensitization 

PREXELENT™ kills many kinds of harmful microbes: viruses, bacteria, and molds. 

Yes, according to tests conducted in Helsinki University using the Sars-cov2 test virus PREXELENT™ kills 99.7% of coronaviruses within 5 minutes.

PREXELENT™ has been tested extensively by esteemed research laboratories, including VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Jyväskylä University, and Helsinki University. Tests were performed with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Sars-cov2 coronavirus and other bacteria, molds, and yeast.

PREXELENT™ is based on pine tree rosin, so it is a natural, completely natural product that does not bioaccumulate or pollute waters at the end of its lifecycle. It also measurably faster in killing microbes than other materials available. 

In PREXELENT™, the active agent migrates to the material's surface in a controlled manner. The release can be controlled according to the application's needs, varying from weeks to years, so this is a product design parameter. 

PREXELENT™'s non-toxic active agent is based on pine tree rosin, which has been used in medical practice since antiquity. A small part of the population (about 1–2%) is allergic to rosin (colophony allergy). PREXELENT™ as such (pine tree rosin) has been allergy tested (ISO 10993-10:2010 Tests for irritation and skin sensitization) and not classified as an allergen, as the amount of pine tree rosin migrating to the surface is minimal. Still, people with colophony allergy should be careful when being in touch with PREXELENT™. 

Unlike silver, PREXELENT™ is based on a renewable natural active agent. Rosin has been used in medical practice since antiquity. It is non-toxic to human beings, animals, and plants, and it does not bioaccumulate or pollute waters at the end of its lifecycle. 

The rosin used in PREXELENT™ may impact the color of the end-product slightly. Even so, light colors are possible, except for bright white. In some applications, the rosin may be visible on the surface of the plastic. 

Yes.

The rosin used in PREXELENT™ is made from renewable raw materials, so its footprint is very small. Adding this rosin to plastic lowers the footprint of the whole compound. If the plastic is made with renewable materials, the footprint will shrink massively. But it is impossible to give exact figures, as there are countless possible end products and production methods with different environmental impacts.

If the plastic end-product is recyclable, PREXELENT™ does not affect its recyclability. 

Our rosin is a by-product of the Finnish forest industry.