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Infusing High-density Polyethylene with Graphene-Zinc Oxide to Produce Antibacterial Nanocomposites with Improved Properties

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Abstract

Nanocomposites of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) modified with 0.2 phr graphene-zinc oxide (GN-ZnO) exhibited optimal mechanical properties and thermal stability. Two other nano-materials—GN and nano-ZnO—were also used to compare them with GN-ZnO. Increasing the content of GN-ZnO gradually enhanced the antibacterial and barrier properties, but the addition of 0.3 phr GN-ZnO led to agglomeration that caused defects in the nanocomposites. Herein, we investigated the antibacterial and barrier properties of HDPE nanocomposites infused with different nanoparticles (GN, ZnO, GN-ZnO) of varying concentrations. HDPE and the nanoparticles were melt-blended together in a Haake-Buchler Rheomixer to produce a new environment-friendly nano-material with improved physical and chemical properties. The following characterizations were conducted: tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis, morphology, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, antibacterial test, and oxygen and water vapor permeation test. The results showed that the crystallinity of HDPE was affected with the addition of GN-ZnO, and the nanocomposites had effective antibacterial capacity, strong mechanical properties, high thermal stability, and excellent barrier performance. This type of HDPE nanocomposites reinforced with GN-ZnO would be attractive for packaging industries.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from the following organizations: Wuliangye Group Co., Ltd. (No. CXY2019ZR001); Sichuan Province Science and Technology Support Program (No. 2019JDRC0029); Zigong City Science and Technology (Nos. 2017XC16 and 2019CXRC01); Opening Project of Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province (Nos. 2016CL10, 2017CL03, 2019CL05, 2018CL08, and 2018CL07); Opening Project of Sichuan Province, the Foundation of Introduced Talent of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering (Nos. 2014RC31, 2017RCL31, 2017RCL36, 2017RCL16, 2019RC05, and 2019RC07). Appreciation is also extended to Apex Nanotek Co., Ltd.

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Material Corrosion and Protection Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, China

    You-Li Yao, Manuel Reyes De Guzman, Chen Gao, Yi-Hua Wen, Juan Du, Li Lin, Ya-Li Sun & Chi-Hui Tsou

  2. Department of Orthopedics, West China School of Medicine/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Hong Duan

  3. Department of Orthopedics, Fourth People’s Hospital of Zigong, Zigong, 643000, China

    Xu Lin

  4. Department of Materials and Textiles, Oriental Institute of Technology, New Taipei City, 22061, China

    Jui-Chin Chen

  5. Department of Applied Cosmetology, Kao Yuan University, Kaohsiung, 82101, China

    Chin-San Wu

  6. Department of Fashion Business Administration, Lee-Ming Institute of Technology, New Taipei City, 24305, China

    Maw-Cherng Suen

  7. Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, China

    Wei-Song Hung

  8. R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Chung Yuan University, Chung-Li, 32023, China

    Wei-Song Hung

  9. Sichuan Zhixiangyi Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu, 610051, China

    Chi-Hui Tsou

  10. Department of Materials Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Chi-Hui Tsou

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  1. You-Li Yao
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Correspondence to Chi-Hui Tsou.

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10118_2020_2392_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Infusing high-density polyethylene with graphene-zinc oxide to produce antibacterial nanocomposites with improved properties

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Yao, YL., De Guzman, M.R., Duan, H. et al. Infusing High-density Polyethylene with Graphene-Zinc Oxide to Produce Antibacterial Nanocomposites with Improved Properties. Chin J Polym Sci 38, 898–907 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-020-2392-z

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