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ANTIBACTERIAL POLYMERIC NANOCOMPOSITES BASED ON PVC AND FUNCTIONALIZED TiO2 NANOPARTICLES WITH APPLICATION IN THE MEDICAL AND FOOD INDUSTRIES

Mihai Georgescu

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to obtain a new composite material based on chemically functionalized nanoparticles dispersed in plastomer matrix. The dispersion of the TiO2 hybrid nanoparticles (filler) in a plastomer matrix (polyvinyl chloride-PVC) leads to a high-performance polymeric material with multi-functional, antibacterial, and plastomer-specific processing properties. The materials are suitable for biomedical and food industry applications and will be tested in terms of long-term stability, and antimicrobial activity. Nanocomposites were obtained by state-of-the-art technology,specific to nanostructure, in continuous flow, without emissions and waste release in the environment, and with optimal technical parameters, technology that can be integrated in the industrial lines specific to the polymer sector. The equipment used is a corotating twin screw extruder-granulator with L/D-25, specific equipment for such applications. TiO2 functionalization is achieved with trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate (TMSPM). PVC is previously plasticized at different concentrations (2-40%) and mixed with different concentrations of functionalized nanoparticles. The homogenization process is controlled by mixing speed, pressure and temperature. The characterization of antibacterial polymeric nanocomposites with PVC matrices and TiO2 hybrid fill was carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the morphology and degree of homogeneity of nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix, complex thermal analysis (DSC), FTIR spectroscopy, and antibacterial activity. Antibacterial activity was tested on bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus). The physical-mechanical tests, hardness, density, tensile strength, elongation at break, abrasion, melt flow index, etc., were carried out according to the standards in force, both in normal condition and after accelerated aging. The influence of TiO2 and its functionalization was studied by comparing the rheological and physical-mechanical properties obtained for the new nanocomposites.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2018/6.1/s24.007

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