Design of super-tough and antibacterial PPR/nano-ZnO composites based on the excellent dispersion of ZnO particles

Herein, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) dispersants are used to disperse and isolate zinc oxide (ZnO) particles. A high-pressure spray device is used to dry the dispersed nano-fillers quickly to achieve the structure of PVP chains wrapping and isolating ZnO particles. Scanning electron microscopy shows that most of the size of the agglomerated ZnO nanoparticles in polypropylene random (PPR, obtained by random copolymerization of propylene and ethylene) is maintained below 100 nm, and only a small amount of large agglomerates with a particle size less than 400 nm. An excellent dispersion of nano-ZnO fillers prepared by this method can greatly improve the toughness of PPR and endow it with good antibacterial properties. When the content of the ZnO nanoparticles is 3 wt%, the notched impact strength of PVZ3 increases to 48.85 kJ m^?2 (unbroken), which is 3.6 times than that of pure PPR. In addition, 3 phr ZnO nanoparticles give PPR excellent antibacterial properties, with an antibacterial rate of 99.9% (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The value of antibacterial activity (E. coli) of PVZ3 reached more than 6.0, which is nearly three times that of PZ.