Effective antimicrobial materials based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles. (1st September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rojas, Karina; Canales, Daniel; Amigo, Nicolas; Montoille, Lissette; Cament, Alejandro; Rivas, Lina M.; Gil-Castell, O.; Reyes, Pablo; Ulloa, Maria Teresa; Ribes-Greus, A.; Zapata, Paula A.
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 172(2019)
• Page Start: 173
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2019-09-01
• Subjects: Antimicrobial packaging -- Polyethylene -- Zinc oxide nanoparticles -- Mechanical properties; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.05.054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: Effective antimicrobial polymeric nanocomposites were prepared with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and zinc oxide nanoparticles by melt compounding. These nanoparticles (∼17 nm) obtained by the sol–gel method, were used both as-synthesized and modified organically with oleic acid (Mod-ZnO). Young's modulus increased ∼15 and 18% for LDPE/ZnO and LDPE/Mod-ZnO, respectively, compared to neat LDPE. When these composites were irradiated with white light, they showed an increase with nanoparticle incorporation, and the antimicrobial properties against E. coli were ∼96–99%. The release of the Zn cations was related to the antimicrobial properties . These nanocomposites are attractive for use as food packaging without external irradiation.