Effect of Copper-Modified Clay in Polyethylene as an Active Antimicrobial Agent

摘要

The antimicrobial efficiency of LDPE/MMTCu nanocomposites against Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 n/t hasbeen studied in the present work. The MMT modified with copper were obtained using cation interchange insolution and the nanocomposites films were prepared by melt mixing, in an extruder at 200℃, at differentcompositions. Characterization of MMTCu and LDPE/MMTCu were carried out using XRD, AA, TGA, DSCand microbiological analysis. The nanocomposites showed to be more stable at higher temperature, resultingfrom the incorporation of MMTCu into the polymer. On the other hand, the results indicated that the antibacterialeffect of nanocomposite increased with the proportion of MMTCu added. Obtaining a 90% of reductionwhen 4% of MMTCu was added in the polymer.