Processing and antimicrobial efficacy of polypropylene/montmorillonite/silver nanocomposites as food packaging films

The aim this study was to use nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP), montmorillonite (MMT) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), prepared by melt intercalation in a twin-screw extruder, as a food packaging bactericide material. The use of nanoclay and nanosilver as additives for polymer matrices requires, in some cases (with non-polar matrices) the use of a compatibilizer agent which will act as a bridge or permanent buffer for nanoclay-nanosilver-matrix interaction. As compatibilizer agent it has been used a propylene graft maleic anhydride copolymer (PP-g-MA). The nanocomposites were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-Rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and determination of antibacterial activity. The results indicate the formation of microstructures predominantly exfoliated. Further, the antibacterial properties of the films were investigated against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria.