Effects of thermal and UV aging on antibacterial properties of linear low-density polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) films containing nano-silver colloid

Abstract

This work studied the effects of thermal and UV-accelerated aging on the antibacterial performance and the physical, structural, and mechanical properties of linear low-density polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) resin doped with nano-silver colloid, by varying the dosage of nano-silver colloid, contact time, and aging time. Antimicrobial performance was evaluated by plate count agar method against Escherichia coli. The results indicated that Escherichia coli cell count decreased with increasing contact time for poly(vinyl chloride) film but increased with increasing contact time for linear low-density polyethylene film. The maximum %bacteria reduction for linear low-density polyethylene film never reached 99.9% for any nano-silver content; but poly(vinyl chloride) film achieved 99.9% bacterial reduction with nano-silver content of 200 ppm at a contact time of 150 min. The addition of nano-silver colloid to poly(vinyl chloride) film did not affect the lightness; however, it significantly decreased the lightness of linear low-density polyethylene film. Aging increased the brittleness of both linear low-density polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) films with nano-silver colloid added. Antibacterial performances of linear low-density polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) films were more sensitive to UV aging than to thermal aging. Changes in antibacterial performance from both types of aging could be explained by physical and structural changes on the film surfaces.

Keywords

Antibacterial performance polyethylene poly(vinyl chloride)nano-silver colloid aging

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