| abstract |
Harmful chemicals and/or organisms are neutralized or reduced in concentration by reaction with a protective chemical applied thinly as a coating on a surface facing the internal volume of an enclosure that can contain a product to be protected. The surface can be the inward surface of an enclosure or an included sheet or other item within the enclosure, optionally adhered to the enclosure or to the product. Exemplary protective chemicals include particulate copper and silver, especially as metal flakes, sized to correspond to the pigments in an ink. The protection is normally sufficient with about 10% of the particle surface area exposed, or in an enclosure that is incomplete or foraminous, a higher concentration can be employed or the protection can be shorter lived. |