Antibacterial Polycarbonate Masterbatch

Polycarbonate-based antibacterial plastics and polymers are used in an extensive array of applications such as: Electronic components, construction materials, data storage, automotive, aircraft, railway, and security components, and medical applications.

This product is known as a PC-based masterbatch containing ZnO nanoparticles. It includes 17.37 Wt. % of ZnO. In nano-scale, ZnO particles produce the reactive oxygen species more than ZnO bulk and so higher antibacterial activity appears in ZnO nanoparticles. It shows high antibacterial activity according to INSO 10900 (Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastics and other non-porous surfaces). The following table clarifies how powerful it is against E.Coli and S.aureus bacteria. Antibacterial activity is defined as the ability of a material to eliminate the bacterial contacting with that. It is calculated by comparison of the logarithm of the number of the bacteria in the control sample and in the corresponding sample of that material.

Antimicrobial plastic, polymers and composites provide excellent benefits. Antimicrobial additives (masterbatches) offer valuable protection for polymers. They are incorporated into a wide variety of plastics and polymeric materials to prolong their life, maintain their aesthetic appeal, or reduce surface contamination. When businesses are looking for a proficient plastic with durability, polycarbonates offer a strong, easily molded option for production. Polycarbonates are thermoplastic polymers that are particularly useful in industrial applications because of their excellent characteristics like natural impact resistance, great structural rigidity and high level transparency. Nanoparticles of ZnO are being used industrially for modifications of plastics. A common feature is their antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity of them has been demonstrated against human pathogenic bacteria, mainly E.Coli and S.aureus.