PAINT & COATINGS BUGBUSTERS TM

DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial

The Ideal Biocide to Enhance Preservative Performance
Paint manufacturers are constantly alert for potential improvements to managing microbial contamination.
Bacteria can be introduced into a formulation from contaminated raw materials, inadequately cleaned equipment,
or a dirty water supply at any point during the production process. Once DOWICIL* QK-20 Antimicrobial has been
used to clean up a raw material or a formulation, the reduced bioburden may alleviate some of the stress placed
on an in-can preservative. Additionally, DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial has shown the ability to enhance efficacy
profiles of several commonly used in-can preservatives. Some of the more common in-can preservatives have
been looked at in combination with a generic paint formulation to determine the effectiveness of DOWICIL QK-20
Antimicrobial as a preservative enhancer.

DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial as a Preservative Enhancer

A generic latex paint formulation was treated with several in-can preservatives, either alone or in
combination with DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial. Preservatives tested included 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-
3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one or CMIT/MIT (1.5% active), 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one or BIT
(19.3% active), and 4, 4-dimethyloxazolidine or DMO (78% active). The preserved generic latex paint formulation
was then inoculated with a concentrated cocktail consisting of nine bacteria at a final concentration of
approximately 109 CFU/mL. Samples were incubated at 30°C and read after 2, 4, 7, 24, 48 hours/ 7, 14, 21 and
28 days. Serial dilutions were done in broth to determine the most probable number of bacteria remaining, and log
reductions were determined as shown in the tables.

The activity of CMIT/MIT, BIT, and DMO was enhanced when used in combination with DOWICIL QK-20
Antimicrobial (Note: all preservative concentrations are given as product and have not been adjusted to account
for the concentration of the active). When DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial was used to enhance the performance
of CMIT/MIT, the level of in-can preservation was decreased from 1700 ppm to 425 ppm with the addition of
125 ppm of DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial. Similarly, a minimum concentration of 1500 ppm of BIT was necessary
when the preservative was used alone but, when used in combination with 250 ppm DOWICIL QK-20
Antimicrobial, a concentration of only 375 ppm was required to maintain the 5.5 log kill for 28 days. DMO was
effective at a minimum concentration of 1250 ppm, but when combined with 125 ppm of DOWICIL QK-20
Antimicrobial, only 80 ppm was required to maintain the 7 log kill for 28 days. In all three cases, the use of
DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial as a co-preservative resulted in comparable efficacy with considerably lower
concentrations of the primary preservative.These results in the generic paint formulation can be seen in the
following tables.

Page 1 of 2 Form No. 253-01525-10/17/05 PS

 Bactericidal Log Reduction Kinetics and Synergism of C/MIT (1.5%) Combined with DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial

C/MIT + DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial (125 ppm)

0 hrs. 2 hrs. 4 hrs. 7 hrs. 24 hrs. 48 hrs. Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day 28
C/MIT (ppm)
1700 1.5 7.0 6.5 6.5 7.5 8.0 6.5 7.0 7.0 7.0
850 2.0 3.0 3.5 3.5 7.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 8.0 7.5
425 1.5 3.0 4.0 4.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.5 7.5 2.5
212 2.0 2.5 4.0 3.5 7.0 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.0 1.0
110 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.5 7.0 7.0 7.5 7.0 8.0 0.5
55 0.5 2.5 3.0 3.5 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.5 7.5 0.5
28 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 5.5 7.0 7.0 7.5 8.0 0.0
14 1.0 1.5 2.5 2.0 1.0 6.5 6.0 7.5 7.5 0.5
Activity of C/MIT alone (> 5 log reduction) is indicated by the interior of the white boundary, all other activity is due to enhancement by DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial.
Day 28 Synergy Index = 2.6

Bactericidal Log Reduction Kinetics and Synergism of BIT (19%) Combined with DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial

BIT + DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial (250 ppm)

BIT (ppm) 0 hrs. 2 hrs. 4 hrs. 7 hrs. 24 hrs. 48 hrs. Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day 28
1500 3.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.5 6.0 5.5
750 1.5 6.5 7.0 6.5 7.5 6.5 6.0 7.5 7.0 6.0
375 1.5 7.0 6.5 7.5 7.0 7.0 6.5 6.5 7.0 5.5
190 1.0 6.0 6.5 7.5 7.5 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 2.5
95 0.5 6.5 7.0 7.5 7.5 6.5 7.0 7.5 5.0 1.5
45 1.0 7.0 6.5 7.5 6.5 7.5 7.0 7.0 6.5 1.0
20 1.5 6.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.5 7.0 0.0
10 1.0 3.0 6.0 6.0 7.0 6.0 6.0 6.5 7.5 1.0
Activity of BIT alone (> 5 log reduction) is indicated by the interior of the white boundary, all other activity is due to enhancement by DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial.
Day 28 Synergy Index = 2.0

Bactericidal Log Reduction Kinetics and Synergism of DMO (78%) Combined with DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial
DMO + DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial (125 ppm)
DMO (ppm) 0 hrs. 2 hrs. 4 hrs. 7 hrs. 24 hrs. 48 hrs. Day 7 Day 14 Day 21 Day 28
5000 8.0 7.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 7.5 6.5 6.0 7.5 8.0
2500 5.0 8.0 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5
1250 4.0 8.0 7.0 7.5 7.0 8.0 6.5 6.5 7.0 6.5
625 2.0 8.0 7.5 7.5 7.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 7.5 5.5
320 2.5 4.0 7.5 7.5 8.0 8.0 6.0 6.5 7.5 6.0
160 3.0 6.0 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.0 6.5 6.0 6.5 5.0
80 3.0 5.5 8.0 7.5 7.5 7.0 6.5 7.0 6.0 5.5
40 2.0 5.5 6.5 6.0 7.5 7.0 6.0 7.5 7.0 1.5
Activity of DMO alone (> 5 log reduction) is indicated by the interior of the white boundary, all other activity is due to enhancement by DOWICIL QK-20 Antimicrobial.
Day 28 Synergy Index = 6.2

For further information visit our website:

www.dowbiocides.com
or call:

United States 1-800-447-4369 (phone) NOTICE: No freedom from any patent owned by Seller or others is to be inferred. Because use conditions and applicable laws
and Canada: 1-989-832-1560 (phone) may differ from one location to another and may change with time, Customer is responsible for determining whether products
1-989-832-1465 (fax) and the information in this document are appropriate for Customer’s use and for ensuring that Customer’s workplace and
Europe: 800-3-694-6367 (phone) disposal practices are in compliance with applicable laws and other governmental enactments. Seller assumes no obligation or
32-3-450-2240 (phone) liability for the information in this document. NO WARRANTIES ARE GIVEN; ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
32-3-450-2815 (fax) MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.
Pacific: 800-7776-7776† (phone)
800-7779-7779† (fax) USE BIOCIDES SAFELY. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND PRODUCT INFORMATION BEFORE USE.
603-7958-3392 (phone)
603-7958-5598 (fax)
China: 800-600-0015 (phone)
800-600-0017 (fax)
Latin America: 55-11-5188-9555 (phone)
55-11-5188-9937 (fax)
Other Global 1-989-832-1560 (phone)
Areas: 1-989-832-1465 (fax)
†except China, Indonesia and Vietnam

Page 2 of 2 *Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company Form No. 253-01525-10/17/05 PS