Abstract
Modified rice straw/Fe3O4/polycaprolactone nanocomposites (ORS/Fe3O4/PCL-NCs) have been prepared for the first time using a solution casting method. The RS/Fe3O4-NCs were modified with octadecylamine (ODA) as an organic modifier. The prepared NCs were characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The XRD results showed that as the intensity of the peaks decreased with the increase of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs content in comparison with PCL peaks, the Fe3O4-NPs peaks increased from 1.0 to 60.0 wt. %. The TEM and SEM results showed a good dispersion of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs in the PCL matrix and the spherical shape of the NPs. The TGA analysis indicated thermal stability of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs increased after incorporation with PCL but the thermal stability of ORS/Fe3O4/PCL-NCs decreased with the increase of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs content. Tensile strength was improved with the addition of 5.0 wt. % of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs. The antibacterial activities of the ORS/Fe3O4/PCL-NC films were examined against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) by diffusion method using nutrient agar. The results indicated that ORS/Fe3O4/PCL-NC films possessed a strong antibacterial activity with the increase in the percentage of ORS/Fe3O4-NCs in the PCL.
Highlights
The applications of natural products as eco-friendly materials, in waste disposal have gained a great deal of attention from researchers, for the synthesis of composites.Polycaprolactone (PCL) as a biodegradable and biocompatible polyester with high potential of application is used in many areas such as agricultural usage and biomedical devices [1]
A comparison of the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns of the RS and RS/Fe3O4-NCs prepared by the quick precipitation method in the small angle range of 2θ = 15° to 25° indicated the formation of nanocomposites (Figure 1a)
In vitro antibacterial activity was screened by using nutrient agar (NA)
Summary
The applications of natural products as eco-friendly materials, in waste disposal have gained a great deal of attention from researchers, for the synthesis of composites. Polycaprolactone (PCL) as a biodegradable and biocompatible polyester with high potential of application is used in many areas such as agricultural usage and biomedical devices [1]. The utilization of inexpensive, renewable, accessible, and biodegradable farming residues such as rice straw, rice husks and corn stover can rationalize the cost effect [2,3]. Bio-fibers are useable in both thermoplastic and thermosetting matrix composites [4,5]. The natural fibers are cost effective and provide significant performance, especially when they are used in biodegradable matrix composites [4]
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