title: Functional behaviour of polyethylene-ZnO nanocomposites.
abstract: Hybrid inorganic-organic nanocomposite materials are of current interest because of their multifunctionality, ease of processability, and potential for large-scale manufacturing. The focus of this study is to ascertain the functional properties of the commodity plastic impregnated with ZnO/starch nanocomposites. ZnO/starch nanocomposites was prepared by a simple process using zinc nitrate and sodium hydroxide as precursor and soluble starch as stabilizing agent. The peak obtained in terms of wavelength from UV-visible spectrum is converted in terms of particle size using effective mass approximation method. The plastic sheet of 50 microm thickness was prepared by hot blow method using 1:1 ratio of HDPE:LLDPE and 1% concentration of ZnO/starch nanocomposites. The morphological analysis was carried out using both optical and scanning electron microscopy. For antibacterial activity, evaluation was carried out with Staphylococcus aureus (AATCC 6538), a Gram-positive bacterium and Klebsiella pneumoniae (AATCC 4352), a Gram-negative bacterium. Excellent UV blocking ability was noticed in nanocomposites when compared to the control.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology, Adenwala Road, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vigneshwaran
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bharimalla
authors.forename: Virendra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kathe
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Balasubramanya
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011095:Polyethylenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011095:Polyethylenes; D013213:Starch; D015034:Zinc Oxide