Antibacterial Polypropylene Masterbatch

Industrial and consumer polymers can be susceptible to microbial attack, causing undesirable effects such as staining, odors, and physical degradation. Extensive research has been carried out in the last decades in order to investigate possible methods to prepare antibacterial plastics. Bacteria and fungi feed on most plastic and polymer additives often leading to a potential loss of product integrity. This is particularly true for outdoor applications, where constant environmental stresses dramatically reduce the life of an untreated article. Antimicrobial plastic, polymers and composites provide excellent benefits. Antimicrobial additives (masterbatches) offer valuable protection for polymers. They are incorporated into a wide variety of plastics and polymeric materials to prolong their life, maintain their aesthetic appeal, or reduce surface contamination. Polypropylene (PP) is an economical thermoplastic polymer which is normally tough and flexible used as an engineering plastic, competing with materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Nanoparticles of ZnO are being used industrially for modifications of plastics. A common feature is their antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity of them has been demonstrated against human pathogenic bacteria, mainly E.Coli and S.aureus.