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Dispersion of Silver Nanoparticles into Polymer Matrix Dry Adhesives to Achieve Antibacterial Properties, Increased Adhesion, and Optical Absorption
Author(s) -
Bovero Enrico,
Magee Kaylee E. A.,
Young Edgar C.,
Me Carlo
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular reaction engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1862-8338
pISSN - 1862-832X
DOI - 10.1002/mren.201300110
Subject(s) - polydimethylsiloxane , polymer , adhesive , materials science , silver nanoparticle , adhesion , dispersion (optics) , nanoparticle , particle size , chemical engineering , absorption (acoustics) , composite material , nanotechnology , optics , layer (electronics) , physics , engineering
The fabrication and characterization of dry adhesives treated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles presenting enhanced adhesion and antibacterial properties is described. A one‐step procedure for the dispersion of Ag nanoparticles in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is implemented, achieving a uniform distribution of particles within the polymer with an average particle size of 40 nm. An order‐of‐magnitude increase in adhesion is observed for both flat and structured polymers treated with silver, in comparison with adhesives consisting of PDMS without silver. An average reduction of bacterial growth of 2 log‐units is observed upon exposure to Ag treated polymers in comparison to polymers without silver. This indicates the potential for employing this material in environments where avoidance of bacterial contamination is crucial.