Copper’s antimicrobial property
A particularly useful characteristic of copper is its antimicrobial property. Copper and copper-alloy surfaces have the natural property of destroying microorganisms, making copper an excellent material for doorknobs, handrails, computer keyboards, shopping card handles, faucets, and health club equipment. Being a biostatic material, many other forms of life cannot grow on a copper surface. This has made copper a standard material to line ship hulls to protect against the growth of barnacles and mussels. The corrosion resistance of copper also makes it especially appropriate for long-term use in marine environments.
