Polymeric Composites Based on Plastified PVC and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

The paper presents the obtaining method and characterization of polymeric composites based on polyvinyl chloride plasticized with 60% dipropylheptylphthalate for medical and food applications. In order to obtain materials with antibacterial and antifungal properties, specific to the mentioned domain, zinc oxide nanoparticles, functionalized with polydimethylsiloxane by ultrasonography, were used. The influence of 1, 3, and 7 parts of functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles added to 100 parts of polymer, on the physical-mechanical properties, the melt flow index, the abrasion resistance and the structure, was investigated. The polymeric composites were processed on a Plasti-Corder Brabender 350 E mixer at 165-180°C and 150-180 revolutions per minute. The obtained show that adding zinc oxide nanoparticles into the composition led to an increase of hardness, max. 4°ShA, an improvement in tear resistance, elongation at break and resistance to tearing. Abrasion resistance has good values below 300 mm3. The melt flow index is over 62 g/10 min at 165°C with a 5 Kg pressure, showing very good processing by the injection method of the new polymeric composites. The FTIR spectra of the samples indicate that the new composites have a stable structure, due to a very good compatibility / interaction with the polymer matrix, the plasticizer does not tend to migrate to the surface although a large amount of plasticizer (60%) is used.