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Structural, thermal, and antibacterial properties of chitosan/ZnO composites
Author(s) -
Shafiq Muhammad,
Yasin Tariq,
Aftab Rafiq Muhammad
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.22636
Subject(s) - chitosan , materials science , thermal stability , composite material , composite number , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , chemical engineering , engineering
This study presents the influence of zinc oxide (ZnO) on the structural, thermal, and antibacterial characteristics of chitosan. The chitosan composites containing different concentrations of ZnO (0.5–2 mass ratio with respect to chitosan) were prepared using sol‐cast transformation method. Fourier‐transform infrared spectra and X‐ray diffraction patterns revealed chemical interactions between the chitosan and ZnO in the composites that became more evident at higher concentrations of filler. The composites exhibited significantly lower degradation rate and higher thermal stability than that of chitosan. When 50% mass loss is set as a point of comparison, the chitosan/ZnO (1:2) composite exhibited 143°C higher thermal stability compared with chitosan. Similarly, the composites exhibited biocidal activity to gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Furthermore, higher biocidal activity was possessed by chitosan/ZnO (1:1) composites. The current–voltage characteristics curves also depicted a significant increase in the value of current versus voltage at equimolar concentration of chitosan and ZnO. It can be concluded that the biocompatible, eco‐friendly and low cost chitosan/ZnO composite hydrogels can be used for food packaging and biomedical applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:79–85, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers