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KRION™ K·LIFE. The revolution of small changes

krion-klife

19/08/2020

At Krion PORCELANOSA Grupo, we believe that small changes can make the world a better place, which is why we strive to offer solutions that improve people's lives and environment, incorporating ethics and sustainability as essential factors to guarantee long-term results. Transparency, safety, trust and innovation are four of the values of our corporate reputation.

Thanks to our excellent R&D&I team, we are constantly seeking to improve the end product and to develop innovative, long-lasting, sustainable and viable solutions in accordance with our value chains.  This effort has led to the development of Krion® K-LIFE 1100, a material compatible with nature, sustainability and the improvement of society's quality of life.

 

Krion® K·LIFE, the sustainable and environmental conscience of a material

One of the greatest concerns when manufacturing materials is the consumption of resources and the impact it may have on nature and its lifecycle. A product or project made with Krion® K-LIFE 1100 is sustainable as its environmental impact is reduced through increased environmental efficiency in its lifecycle. In addition, natural casting is used in the manufacturing process, for which hardly any energy is required, so we reduce the carbon footprint. Like Krion® K-LIFE 1100, all other Krion® materials are also recyclable and can be reused in designs, thus restarting the product lifecycle and contributing to an environmentally responsible circular economy. 

Krion® K·LIFE improving air quality through its properties

Krion® K-LIFE 1100 contributes to the improvement of air quality as it is a material with very low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), making it an excellent material for cladding and exterior areas.

In 2005, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute developed a new standard and product certification for nursery, kindergarden and healthcare facilities as an extension of the GREENGUARD certification programme for indoor air quality. Known as the GREENGUARD Gold certification, it was developed by assessing the chemical sensitivity of children, along with the building characteristics of schools. This certification, of which Krion® K-LIFE 1100 is a holder, presents the most stringent product emissions criteria to date for low-emission materials.

Krion® K-LIFE contributes to an environment free of bacteria and micro-organisms thanks to its almost zero porosity, making it impossible for dirt and stains to penetrate it and thus preventing the reproduction of pathogens on its surface. In addition to this, its composition, which is free of hazardous products, contributes to providing aseptic, safe and healthy spaces for the health of people and the environment.

The intrinsic properties of Krion® materials also extend to K-LIFE, maintaining their thermoforming capacity and union with imperceptible joints and achieving continuous surfaces that adapt to any design. Its resistance to fire, endorsed by the B-s1-d0 certificate, and to temperature changes make it a safer choice as a construction and cladding material. Its easy maintenance and cleaning and its durability make it an ideal material for high traffic areas.

 

krion k life

KrionTM K · LIFE 1100 applied in the facilities of the Hospital of A Coruña. Architecture: Casa Solo Photo: Arume Fotografía

 

Krion® K·LIFE 1100 and its anti-virus properties

There is growing concern over the materials we surround ourselves with due to their capacity to harbour infectious organisms, which is why surfaces that help to reduce this capacity from the outset are highly beneficial. This is the case with Krion® K-LIFE 1100.

Krion® K-LIFE 1100 has been tested against variants of respiratory viruses, the Influenza A virus, responsible for all cases of seasonal influenza outbreaks, and a non-lethal variant of coronavirus, CoV-NL63. Both can be spread through the air, by sneezing, or by being deposited on fomites.

To make the trial more representative, an inert material has also been tested as a reference for materials used to prevent viral infection and used in the field of safety, i.e. plastic. Plastics are essential as barriers with humans, food, hygienic materials and safety areas. There are some studies that assess the durability of viruses on plastic surfaces. For this reason, we have decided to compare both Krion® K-LIFE 1100 and plastic to see how they perform against pathogenic micro-organisms.

The trial was conducted by Virology Research Services Ltd, a specialist virus research consultancy in the UK. Influenza A virus and human coronavirus NL63 were deposited on untreated Krion® K-LIFE 1100 samples. The trial was based on a modification of ISO 21702, antiviral activity of plastics and non-porous surfaces.

After 2, 24 and 48 hours (in the case of Influenza A virus) and 24, 48 and 72 hours (in the case of CoV-NL63), the virus was cultured on both surfaces, plastic and Krion® K-LIFE 1100, and the amount of infectious load was quantified. It was observed that, in the case of the coronavirus on Krion® K-LIFE 1100, at 24 hours the infective capacity was reduced by 82.22% compared to 55.28% on the plastic; and that with the Influenza A virus, the reduction was 88.75% on Krion® K-LIFE 1100 in the first 2 hours and only 18.44% on the plastic.

Considering the results, the rapid reduction of virus infectivity over time can be observed in an excellent material such as Krion® K-LIFE 1100, especially in early contact. This characteristic is a strong point for a material used in living areas, since in just a few minutes the infective capacity is drastically reduced, decreasing the chances of infection.

 

Krion® K·LIFE 1100, a responsible material

If there is one thing that characterises the recent history of our planet, it is the serious ecological crisis in which it is immersed. Not only due to climate change and its effects, but also because of the alarming loss of biodiversity and the environmental, economic and social consequences this entails.

The objective of our material goes beyond caring for people's health as it also achieves a high level of environmental awareness. For this reason, toxicological tests have been carried out on Krion® K-LIFE 1100, in collaboration with the Valencian Institute of Microbiology (IVAMI), to determine the possible ecotoxicity of the material. 

After these tests, it was determined that the interaction of Krion® K-LIFE 1100 with nature is zero, it being an inert material for the environment, thus not potentially causing an accidental release into the natural environment and the living beings that inhabit it. In this way, it responds to a growing demand from society for eco-responsible materials, and to two of the core values of Krion PORCELANOSA Grupo: safety and sustainability.

 

Krion: improvement of established standards and the search for excellence

It is in our nature to seek excellence in each of the steps that make up the lifecycle of our surfaces and products. This commitment is endorsed by the most demanding certifications that confirm the safety and positive impact that Krion® K-LIFE 1100 has on people and the environment.

Krion® K-LIFE 1100 is an innovative solution that meets professional needs while improving people's lives in a safer, healthier and more sustainable world.    


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