Properties of antibacterial polypropylene/nanometal composite fibers

J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2012;23(1-4):43-61. doi: 10.1163/092050610X541944. Epub 2010 Dec 13.

Abstract

Melt spinning of polypropylene fibers containing silver and zinc nanoparticles was investigated. The nanometals were generally uniformly dispersed in polypropylene, but aggregation of these materials was observed on fiber surface and in fiber cross-sections. The mechanical properties of the resulted composite fibers with low concentration of nanometal were comparable to those for the control PP yarns. Extruded composite fibers that contained 0.72% silver and 0.60% zinc nanoparticles had outstanding antibacterial efficacy as documented by the percentage count reduction growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Fibers containing silver particles had improved antistatic properties.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antistatic Agents / chemistry
  • Antistatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Polypropylenes / chemistry*
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Surface Properties
  • Temperature
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antistatic Agents
  • Polypropylenes
  • Silver
  • Zinc