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Silver‐loaded HDPE/clay nanocomposites with antibacterial property: A potential replacement for commodity polyethylene plastic
Author(s) -
Roy Anasuya,
Joshi Mangala,
Butola Bhupendra Singh,
Srivastava A.K.
Publication year - 2018
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.24451
Subject(s) - high density polyethylene , materials science , nanocomposite , composite material , polyethylene , differential scanning calorimetry , scanning electron microscope , physics , thermodynamics
A silver intercalated clay based HDPE nanocomposite with excellent antibacterial activity has been reported for the first time. Antibacterial silver‐clay (Ag‐MMT) synthesized in laboratory was incorporated into HDPE to prepare antibacterial HDPE/Ag‐MMT nanocomposites. Silver has been chosen as it is a powerful antimicrobial agent with additional properties such as unique optical, electrical, and thermal characteristics. The nanocomposites were fabricated through melt mixing route in a twin‐screw extruder with varying Ag‐MMT concentrations. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray diffraction studies confirmed superior dispersion of clay platelets in HDPE. Dynamic oscillatory properties and mechanical characteristics of the nanocomposites were determined to observe the effect of Ag‐MMT on HDPE. Antimicrobial testing of these nanocomposites against Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus showed excellent bioactivity (>99%) at 5 wt% Ag‐MMT. These antibacterial plastic materials have potential to replace neat HDPE products in niche areas where antimicrobial property would be highly desirable. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E366–E377, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers