Abstract
Zinc compounds in polyolefin films regulate the transmission of UV-VIS radiation, affect mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity. According to hypothesis, the use of zinc- containing masterbatches in polyethylene films (PE) with different chemical nature—hydrophilic zinc oxide (ZO) and hydrophobic zinc stearate (ZS)—can cause a synergistic effect, especially due to their antimicrobial properties. PE films obtained on an industrial scale containing zinc oxide and zinc stearate masterbatches were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus strains. The morphology of the samples (SEM), composition (EDX), UV barrier and transparency, mechanical properties and global migration level were also determined. SEM micrographs confirmed the good dispersion of zinc additives in the PE matrix. The use of both masterbatches in one material caused a synergistic effect of antimicrobial activity against both bacterial strains. The ZO masterbatch reduced the transparency of films, increased their UV-barrier ability and improved tensile strength, while the ZS masterbatch did not significantly change the tested parameters. The global migration limit was not exceeded for any of the samples. The use of ZO and ZS masterbatch mixtures enables the design of packaging with high microbiological protection with a controlled transmission for UV and VIS radiation.
Highlights
The packaging-based industry is one of the most dynamically developing plastics processing sectors
The results described below apply to the production of polyethylene-based films with functional additives in the form of masterbatches containing zinc nanocompounds: zinc oxide (ZO) and/or zinc stearate (ZS)
In case of zinc stearate particles, our research indicates activity of films containing ZS masterbatch in inhibiting growth against both bacterial strains, but it is hard to speak of antimicrobial function here
Summary
The packaging-based industry is one of the most dynamically developing plastics processing sectors. Active materials are designed to extend the shelf life or keep and improve the condition of packaged products This can be achieved by imparting properties that inhibit the development of microflora, e.g., by immobilizing bactericidal or bacteriostatic substances in the polymer structure. There are known many compounds that confer antimicrobial properties to packaging materials These include food preservatives such as benzoic acid, sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, nisin, lysozyme, and plant extracts [3]. The development of nanotechnology has opened a new path in the search for compounds with effective antimicrobial activity not susceptible to high temperatures during processing, such as metal nanoparticles (silver, copper, zinc and gold). The use of zinc compounds compared to gold or silver has one main advantage, which is a lower price This is crucial from the point of view of industrial applications
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