Preparation and Characterization of Antibacterial Polycarbonate (PC) Using Quaternary Fluoroalkyl Phosphonium Salts with Various Counter Anions

Abstract

In order to find an optimal antibacterial agent for Polycarbonate (PC), five quaternary fluoroalkyl phosphonium salts (FAPS) with iodine anions (PPICF-13), tetrafluoroborate (FB-PPCF-13), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TFMS-PPCF-13), methanesulfonate (MS-PPCF-13), and p-toluenesulfonate (pTS-PPCF-13), each with a side chain of 13 fluorine atoms, were incorporated were incorporated into PC with a mass ratio of 2.5 wt.%. The influence of the counter anions on the rheological properties, mechanical properties, appearance and light transmittance, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of the antibacterial PCs were investigated. The results showed that all the FAPS could impart PC with above 90% of antibacterial degree. The melt flow rate of the PC was increased due to the plasticizing effect of FAPS. The incorporation of up to 2.5 wt.% FAPS had no negative influence on the flexural strength, flexural modulus and tensile strength of the PC, but reduced the impact strength of the PC to varying degrees, depending on the counter anion. All five of the FAPS influenced the appearance and light transmittance of PC, and the TFMS-PPCF-13, MS-PPCF-13 and pTS-PPCF-13 samples appeared to have less impact on these properties than PPICF-13 and FB-PPCF-13. All antibacterial PCs; except for the antibacterial PC containing PPICF-13, exhibited no cytotoxicity. Considering all the properties, the antibacterial PC containing TFMS-PPCF-13 showed the optimal comprehensive properties based on this research.