US maker Corning debuts antimicrobial version

Corning, the U.S. maker of Gorilla Glass used in smartphones and tablets, says a new antimicrobial version will be a must-have for public kiosks. Featuring ionic silver as an antibacterial agent, the new glass should be coming to public kiosks and other germ-harboring touchscreens in the near future, Corning said Monday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nev. "As touch technologies proliferate, consumers are becoming aware of how bacteria can exist on mobile devices, particularly as we increasingly share touch-enabled surfaces at home, work, and elsewhere," the New York company said in a statement. Some companies are already testing units featuring the new antimicrobial Gorilla Glass with many more to follow, it said. The glass "inhibits the growth of algae, mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria," and is "effective for the lifetime of a device," James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager of Corning Specialty Materials, said in a statement.