Effective antimicrobial materials based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles

[EN] Effective antimicrobial polymeric nanocomposites were prepared with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and zinc oxide nanoparticles by melt compounding. These nanoparticles (~17 nm) obtained by the sol¿gel method, were used both as-synthesized and modified organically with oleic acid (Mod-ZnO). Young¿s modulus increased ~15 and 18% for LDPE/ZnO and LDPE/Mod-ZnO, respectively, compared to neat LDPE. When these composites were irradiated with white light, they showed an increase with nanoparticle incorporation, and the antimicrobial properties against E. coli were ~96¿99%. The release of the Zn cations was related to the antimicrobial properties. These nanocomposites are attractive for use …