Wettability, Thermal Stability, and Antibacterial Properties of Polycaprolactone/Zno Nanocomposites in Packaging.

Obaid, Ali Naji; Ali, Nadia Abbas

Polycaprolactone is a one of the natural biodegradable polymer mainly used in bioplastics production for packaging. It is usually composed of non-toxic biodegradable compounds. The aim of the work was to examine the role of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowder on wettability, thermal stability and anti-bacterial properties against E.Coli (gram negative) and against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (gram positive). Pure PCL and PCL-based bio- nanocomposites doped with various ratios (0.5%, 1%, 3% and 5 wt%) of ZnO nanoparticles were prepared by the solving casting method. The results show that wettability properties of PCL were increasingly hydrophobic from 55.77º to 60º.14 because of the added ZnO nanocomposites. The thermal stability for PCL nanocomposites between 300 and 400 °C makes them perfect for the application of food packaging applications. Also, the anti-bacterial screening inhibition against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms was compared with PCL.

POLYCAPROLACTONE; THERMAL stability; WETTING; NANOCOMPOSITE materials; BIOPOLYMERS; FOOD packaging

Iraqi Journal of Physics, 2020, Vol 18, Issue 47, p1

2070-4003

Academic Journal

10.30723/ijp.v18i47.603