Thermal properties and hydrophilicity of antibacterial poly(phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites reinforced with zinc oxide-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes

• Published in: Journal of polymer research Vol. 29; no. 3
• Main Authors: Ge, Fei-Fan, Wan, Neng, Tsou, Chi-Hui, Chen, Jui-Chin, Wu, Chin-San, De Guzman, Manuel Reyes, Zeng, Chun-Yan, Zhou, Li, Wang, Yu-Ting, Luo, Xu, Yu, Yong-Qi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antibacterial agents; Calorimetry; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Coordination; Crystallization; Differential scanning calorimetry; Diffraction; Ductile fracture; Ductile-brittle transition; E coli; Elongation; Hydrophilicity; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Nanotubes; Nucleation; Original Paper; Permeability; Polymer Sciences; Polyphenylene sulfides; Sulfides; Tensile strength; Tensile tests; Thermal properties; Thermal stability; Thermodynamic properties; Thermogravimetric analysis; X-rays; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides; Antibacterial evaluation; Coordination; Hydrophilicity; Zinc oxide-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes; Polyphenylene sulfide; Crystallinity; Tensile properties; Water permeability
• ISSN: 1022-9760; 1572-8935
• DOI: 10.1007/s10965-022-02931-9

A nanomaterial in the form of zinc oxide-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-ZnO) was synthesized, and new nanocomposites were prepared by blending together different amounts of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) as matrix and MWCNTs–ZnO as fillers in a torque rheometer with an internal mixer. MWCNTs-ZnO enhanced the barrier performance of PPS in terms of crystallinity, path blocking, and coordination reaction. Through tensile test, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, evaluation of Escherichia coli inhibition, and water permeability, the properties of pure PPS and PPS/MWCNTs-ZnO nanocomposites were characterized and compared. The results showed that MWCNTs-ZnO played a role in heterogeneous nucleation. When the content of MWCNTs-ZnO was 0.4 phr, the crystallization temperature, thermostability, tensile strength, elongation at break, and hydrophilicity approached maximum values, and the microscopic morphology changed from the original brittle fracture to a ductile fracture. PPS/MWCNTs-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved barrier performance due to three possible factors: (1) extending the transmission path due to the presence of nanofillers; (2) enhancing crystallization; (3) coordination between PPS and MWCNTs-ZnO. Finally, FTIR analysis showed that PPS and MWCNTs-ZnO formed coordination between them, which improved the properties of nanocomposites. Graphical abstract