Antibacterial Nanocomposites of Polypropylene Modified with Silver-Decorated Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) has some disadvantages when used in food packaging: PP does not have antibacterial properties, and it exhibits low barrier properties. In this study, nanocomposites of PP filled with different amounts of silver-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-Ag) were fabricated. A new nanomaterial with silver had the advantage of providing antibacterial capabilities, and the contribution of MWCNTs was to reinforce mechanical properties. PP was melt-blended with MWCNTs-Ag, but the ensuing problem was the poor interfacial interaction of fillers with the polymer matrix, especially at high filler content. Nonetheless, a small quantity of fillers resulted in the following improvement in nanocomposite properties, relative to neat PP: better antibacterial ability, lower water vapor permeation flux, lower oxygen barrier performance, higher thermostability, faster crystallization rate and higher tensile strength. Therefore, nanocomposites formed from modifying PP with a low content of MWCNTs-Ag show promise in the field of packaging and medical material applications.