COATABLE BIOCIDAL COMPOSITIONS

Water-based coatable compositions for application to a substrate to inhibit the growth of microbes for extended periods of time, durable removable biocidal polymeric coatings resulting from such coatable compositions, a method of protecting a substrate from the growth of microbes and substrates resistant to such growth are described. The coatable compositions comprise an acrylate emulsion polymer comprising the reaction product of one or more acrylate or methacrylate monomers and one or more carboxylic acid monomers, an organoalkoxysilane, an effective amount of biocide, plasticizer and water. The coatable composition may be applied to the surface of a substrate and allowed to dry to provide durable adherent polymeric coatings which slowly release biocide to the surrounding surface for extended periods of time. The polymeric coatings may be removed from the substrate by alkaline washing, for example, but otherwise will remain on the substrate even after exposure to significant and continuous warm water rinsing.