Estudio de la aleación de aluminio 6063-T5 utilizada en pasamanos de buses para disminuir el riesgo de contaminación biológica con ensayos en ambientes controlados

Abstract

In this study the main objective is to analyze the reduction of biological contamination on bus’s handrails made of aluminum alloy 6063-T5. Many tests had been performed in typical handrail’s material samples under controlled environments to determine whether to find antimicrobial properties or not in these material. The experimental investigation was performed to determine mechanical properties of aluminum alloy 6063-T5 and also biological test methods to investigate whether or not the inhibition of bacterial growth. Recount method on aluminum alloy 6063-T5 samples to establish the number of bacteria found with two sample replicates and dilutions using the laminar flow cabinet and laboratory incubator. Finally, to estimate the number of viable bacteria in the samples, we use the colony-forming unit (CFU/ml) to determine which material response with positive antimicrobial properties and it was possible to find that AA6063-T5 is not recommended to be use in bus’s handrails and all the others aluminum alloys with high levels of copper in their chemical composition are well suited due to its antimicrobial properties under the technical recommendation of the Environmental Protection Agency - EPA