Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties of Polypropylene/Polyamide 6 Blends-TiO₂ Nanocomposites

Abstract

Polypropylene/Polyamide 6 (PP/PA6) blends-TiO₂ nanocomposites have been prepared via melt blending PP/PA6 with TiO₂ nanoparticles, which were pretreated with toluene-2,4-di-isocyanate. The functionalized-TiO₂ can react with the terminal amino and carboxyl groups at PA6, interfacial interaction and compatibility between TiO₂ and matrix have been greatly improved resulted in higher tensile and impact strength than that of those filled with pristine TiO₂ or pure PP/PA6 blends, and they have strong antimicrobial abilities against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The average efficiency of antibacterial is over 90% within 2.0 h. Mechanical and antibacterial properties can achieve their maximum with 3.0 wt%TiO₂.

Keywords:

• Antibacterial properties
• Mechanical properties
• Polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends
• Titanium dioxide nanoparticle

Notes

a, b and c refer to the antibacterial rate (%) against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Colon bacillus, respectively; PP/PA6/3p-T and PP/PA6/1T refer to the PP/PA6 blends incorporated 3.0 wt% pristine and 1.0 wt% TDI-functionalized TiO₂ nanoparticles, respectively.