Thermal, mechanical and antibacterial properties of water-based acrylic Polymer/SiO2–Ag nanocomposite coating

Abstract

This work aims to emphasize the effect of SiO2–Ag hybrid nanofillers on the thermal, mechanical and antibacterial properties of water-based acrylic coating. SiO2–Ag hybrid nanofillers were successfully synthesized and dispersed into water-based acrylic coating at the concentrations of 0.5–4 wt%. The mechanical tests indicated that the incorporation of SiO2–Ag nanofillers into the water-based acrylic coating had slightly improved adhesion of the coating and had significantly enhanced its abrasion resistance and its thermal stability. The coating with 2 wt% of the nanofillers had the highest values of adhesion (2.61 N/mm2), abrasion resistance (115.78 l/mil) and thermal stability (T5% = 340.14 °C). The antibacterial test against E. coli bacteria showed the antibacterial activity of SiO2–Ag nanofillers embedding in acrylic emulsion polymer matrix was comparable to that of AgNPs aqueous solution.