Preparation, Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of SiO2/ Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Films for Active Food Packaging

In this study, transparent thin film of SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) filled poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) composites were prepared by a solvent casting method, with chloroform (CHCl3) as a solvent. This paper is focused on studying the mechanical and antimicrobial activity of SiO2 NPs in PBAT films. The morphological characteristics were studied by using FTIR and XRD spectroscopy. SEM, HRTEM investigations confirm the homogeneous dispersion of SiO2 NPs in the PBAT matrix. The tensile strength increases significantly by introducing the SiO2 NPs of (5 wt%) into the PBAT matrix, in which PBAT/SiO2 films have greater tensile strength (58.01 MPa) when compared to the PBAT polymer (33.75 MPa). In this study we found that PBAT/SiO2 had increased mechanical properties, increased contact angle and decreased oxygen permeability, and moisture uptake of the nanocomposite film. Further antimicrobial activity by the well diffusion assay method was followed against S. aureus, and E. coli which were found to have good inhibition effect.