Processing of Polypropylene-Montmorillonite-Silver Nanocomposites as Food Packaging Bactericide Material

The aim this study was to use nanocomposites of polypropylene (PP), montmorillonite (MMT) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), prepared by melt intercalation in a twin-screw extruder, as a food packaging bactericide material. The use of nanoclays and nanosilver as additives for polymer matrices requires, in some cases (with non-polar matrices) the use of a compatibilizer agent which will act as a bridge or permanent buffer for nanoclay-nanosilver-matrix interaction. As a compatibilizer agent it has been used a propylene graft maleic anhydride copolymer (PP-g-MA). The nanocomposites were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-Rays diffraction (XRD) and determination of antibacterial activity. The results indicate the formation of microstructures predominantly exfoliated. Further, the antibacterial properties of the films were investigated against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria