Antibacterial polypropylene/Ag-kaolinite, preparation and characterization

Abstract

Two types of kaolinites modified by formamide, ammonium bromide, vinylacetate (followed by polymerization insitu) and then treated with silver nitrate solution. Mixtures of polypropylene with silver/kaolinite (AgK) nanofillers, prepared by melt compounding technique and pressed into thin plates. Structure properties of prepared powder AgK materials and PP/AgK composites were studied using X-ray diffraction methods, scanning electron microscopy and the specific surface area measurement. Antibacterial properties of PP/AgK composites were tested on two different bacterial strains: Gram-positive, Enterococcus faecalis and Gram-negative, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Surfaces of PP/AgK composites showed good antibacterial effect against both tested bacteria. The results showed improving effect to inhibit the bacterial growth with increasing content of AgK nanofillers in PP. © 2016 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.