Abstract
Abstract Polycaprolactone (PCL) to which has been added zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) produces nanocomposites (PCL/ZnO NCs). These nanocomposites can be used in biomedical applications and in the food packaging sector. However, for these materials to be used in these applications, they need to be sterilized. For this, gamma irradiation is the most common method. Thus it is important to evaluate the effects of gamma irradiation on the properties of PCL and PCL/ZnO that have been exposed to gamma irradiation. PCL/ZnO NCs films were obtained by solvent casting and exposed to gamma irradiation at 25 kGy and evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical properties. Mechanical properties and crystallinity showed marginal variations for the irradiated samples. The results obtained demonstrate that gamma irradiation at 25 kGy, did not cause profound changes in nanocomposite properties.
Highlights
Conventional synthetic polymers are widely used in our society due to characteristics such as low density, low cost of production, and facility for molding, among others
This contrasts with the work of Augustine and co-workers, who observed a shift in peak position of C=O to a lower energy level as the nanoparticles of ZnO content increased[28]. These findings suggest that gamma irradiation at 25 KGy did not cause structural changes in the polymer chains
PCL/ZnO NCs films were obtained by solvent casting method with different contents of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and irradiated at 25 kGy
Summary
Conventional synthetic polymers are widely used in our society due to characteristics such as low density, low cost of production, and facility for molding, among others Due to their chemical constitution, they have a low rate of degradation, leading to environmental problems[1,2,3]. The particles with nanometric dimensions have a strong tendency to agglomerate due to high surface energy, which acts to prevent their dispersion in the polymer matrix, compromising the properties expected for the material[18]. This dispersion can be controlled by modifying the surface of nanoparticles (NPs)[19].
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