Ultraviolet resistance and antimicrobial properties of ZnO-supported zeolite filled isotactic polypropylene composites

In order to increase the antimicrobial properties and ultraviolet resistance of isotactic polypropylene (iPP), ZnO-supported zeolite particles were prepared and used as multifunctional filler for iPP composites. The ZnO-supported zeolites with different ZnO contents were obtained by treating the mixture of zeolite and zinc acetate by different methods. Atomic absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and wide-angle X-ray diffraction experiment indicated that the ZnO was formed on the surface of zeolite particles. UV-irradiation results showed that the ultraviolet resistance of ZnO-supported zeolite filled iPP composites is higher than that of iPP composite filled by the same content of micro ZnO. The ZnO-supported zeolite filed iPP composites exhibit higher antimicrobial abilities than ZnO filled iPP composites prepared by directly adding micro ZnO into iPP matrix for the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Incorporation of ZnO and zeolite increases the crystallization temperatures of iPP due to the heterogeneous nucleation of ZnO and zeolite particles. The prepared ZnO-supported zeolite particles have no influence on the crystallization and melting behavior of zeolite filled iPP composites. The ZnO-supported zeolite particles are an effective filler to prepare iPP composites with antimicrobial ability and ultraviolet resistance. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.