Research and production of antimicrobial polymer blends from thermoplastic and polyguanidine

Abstract

Microorganisms are one of the main causes of food spoilage and diseases that seriously affect human health. Therefore, the development of materials with antibacterial ability to help repel diseases and epidemics, improve the quality of life and, in particular, ensure food safety and hygiene is receiving much attention. In this study, first, PE wax was selected as the resin matrix for grafting maleic anhydride (MAH) to obtain PEwg-MAH. Then, PEw-g-MAH continued to be used as the frame for Polyhexamethylene guanidine(PHMG) grafting; the obtained material was PEw-g-PHMG. Finally, PEw-g-PHMG was mixed with LLDPE resin to make antimicrobial polymer blend materials and applied to produce antibacterial films used in preserving agricultural products. The mixing ratio amongst materials was investigated to attain suitable properties.
The results determined the proportions of materials suitable for MAH and Styrene were 8 and 12%, PHMG
and PEw-g-PHMG were 45 and 7%, respectively. At these ratios, the resulting polymer blend has mechanical
and antimicrobial properties suitable for applying film packaging and food preservation.