High-performance dual-action polymer-TiO2 nanocomposite films via melting processing

Nano Lett. 2007 Aug;7(8):2529-34. doi: 10.1021/nl0709569. Epub 2007 Jul 11.

Abstract

The incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles into (ethylene-vinyl alcohol)-based food packaging copolymers affords an opportunity to synthesize polymer-based nanocomposite materials with novel and powerful biocidal and photodegradability properties, resulting in the production of an advanced, environmentally friendly system prepared using a cost-effective synthesis method via a simple melt compounding without the need of a coupling agent incorporation. The presented materials display an unprecedented performance in the killing of both Gram positive and negative bacteria without the necessity of being release to the media and an easy degradation under sunlight which favorably competes with biodegradation procedures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallization / methods*
  • Food Packaging / instrumentation
  • Food Packaging / methods*
  • Hot Temperature
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Particle Size
  • Polyvinyls / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties
  • Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polyvinyls
  • titanium dioxide
  • ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer
  • Titanium