The compatibilization provided by maleic anhydride (MA) and 2-[2-(dimethylamino)-ethoxy] ethanol (DMAE) functionalized polyethylene for forming polyethylene-based nanocomposites was studied and compared. MA was grafted into PE by melt mixing to obtain PEgMA (compatibilizer 1), thereafter, PEgMA was reacted with DMAE and an antioxidant also by melt mixing to obtain PAgDMAE (compatibilizer 2). These compatibilizers were reacted using ultrasound with a solution of AgNO3 0.04 M and Ethylene glycol. Ammonium hydroxide was added in a ratio of 2:1 molar with respect to silver nitrate. These silver coated compatibilizers were mixed with PE and nano-clay (Cloisite I28E), thus forming the different hybrid PE-clay-silver nanocomposites. FTIR confirmed the formation of these two compatibilizers. All the compatibilized nanocomposites had better filler (clay and silver) dispersion and exfoliation compared to the uncompatibilized PE nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction, mechanical and antimicrobial properties attained showed that the PEgDMAE produced the better dispersed PE, clay and silver nanocomposites. The obtained nanocomposites showed outstanding antimicrobial properties against bacteria, Escherichia coli and fungus, Aspergillus niger. It is concluded that the PEgDMAE offers an outstanding capability for preparing nanocomposites with highly exfoliated and dispersed filler into the PE matrix.

Date Published: 27 August 2014
PDF: 4 pages
Proc. SPIE 9166, Biosensing and Nanomedicine VII, 916611 (27 August 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2066671

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9166:
Biosensing and Nanomedicine VII
Hooman Mohseni; Massoud H. Agahi; Manijeh Razeghi, Editor(s)