Key Words:Nanostructured materials;Energy dispersive spectroscopy - Escherichia coli - Microstructure - Polystyrenes - Titanium dioxide - Ultraviolet radiation;Absorbance - Antibacterial effects - High-impact polystyrenes (HIPS) - Melt compounding
Abstract:TiO<inf>2</inf> nanoparticles were introduced into High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) in the form of master batch where TiO<inf>2</inf> was pre-dispersed in HIPS by melt compounding. The microstructures and properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) composition distribution maps indicate that TiO<inf>2</inf> nanoparticles are dispersed randomly in the nanocomposites comprising low TiO<inf>2</inf> content (&le2wt.%), while the dispersion is inferior at high TiO<inf>2</inf> content. The variation in the dispersion behavior influences the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Significantly, the surface of nanocomposites shows a strong absorption of UV light in the wavelength range of 250&sim;400 nm, an increase in the TiO<inf>2</inf> content of nanocomposites raises the absorbance in the region. HIPS/TiO<inf>2</inf> nanocomposites have a satisfactory antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli(E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). &copy; 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.
Volume:40
Issue:24
Translation or Not:no