Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films

Polymers have been ruling the packaging industry for decades due to their versatility, easy manufacturability, and low cost. The overuse of non-biodegradable plastics in food packaging has become a serious environmental concern. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced nanocomposites have exc...

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Main Authors: Mahjabin Moon, Samiya Rahman Mim, Md. Muktadir Billah, A.K.M. Masud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000805
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author Mahjabin Moon
Samiya Rahman Mim
Md. Muktadir Billah
A.K.M. Masud
author_facet Mahjabin Moon
Samiya Rahman Mim
Md. Muktadir Billah
A.K.M. Masud
author_sort Mahjabin Moon
collection DOAJ
description Polymers have been ruling the packaging industry for decades due to their versatility, easy manufacturability, and low cost. The overuse of non-biodegradable plastics in food packaging has become a serious environmental concern. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced nanocomposites have exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. However, a major difficulty in the synthesis of CNT-reinforced nanocomposites is the nanotube agglomeration, which results in poor dispersion and less interfacial bonding between reinforcements and matrix, limiting its advantages. Although acid treatment is effective, strong acids, treatment timing, and sonication power can lead to nanotube damage. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance PVA nanocomposite films' mechanical, thermal, optical, and antibacterial performance using polydopamine-coated CNTs, which are more effective than pristine or acid-treated CNTs, making them promising for food packaging applications. Pristine CNT reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films were fabricated with varying concentrations of CNTs (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 2.0 wt%). These samples underwent mechanical, thermal, and optical characterization for the optimization of CNTs’ concentration in the PVA matrix. Then the optimized amount of acid-treated and polydopamine-coated CNTs was used to fabricate PVA/CNT films. The mechanical, thermal, and optical characteristics of the resultant films were investigated. It was found that the polydopamine coating on CNTs improved the mechanical, thermal, and optical properties of the films as compared to those of pure PVA, PVA/pristine CNT, and PVA/acid-treated CNT films. Moreover, the resultant film also demonstrated good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in comparison to pure PVA.
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spelling doaj-art-1bd4102978164dd9826c46c5f8f7dc172025-01-17T04:51:56ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41700Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite filmsMahjabin Moon0Samiya Rahman Mim1Md. Muktadir Billah2A.K.M. Masud3Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh; A. K. M. Masud, Department of Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, BangladeshMd. Muktadir Billah, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (MME), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, BangladeshMd. Muktadir Billah, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (MME), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, BangladeshA. K. M. Masud, Department of Industrial and Production Engineering (IPE), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Polymers have been ruling the packaging industry for decades due to their versatility, easy manufacturability, and low cost. The overuse of non-biodegradable plastics in food packaging has become a serious environmental concern. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) reinforced nanocomposites have exceptional electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. However, a major difficulty in the synthesis of CNT-reinforced nanocomposites is the nanotube agglomeration, which results in poor dispersion and less interfacial bonding between reinforcements and matrix, limiting its advantages. Although acid treatment is effective, strong acids, treatment timing, and sonication power can lead to nanotube damage. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance PVA nanocomposite films' mechanical, thermal, optical, and antibacterial performance using polydopamine-coated CNTs, which are more effective than pristine or acid-treated CNTs, making them promising for food packaging applications. Pristine CNT reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films were fabricated with varying concentrations of CNTs (0 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1.0 wt%, 1.5 wt%, and 2.0 wt%). These samples underwent mechanical, thermal, and optical characterization for the optimization of CNTs’ concentration in the PVA matrix. Then the optimized amount of acid-treated and polydopamine-coated CNTs was used to fabricate PVA/CNT films. The mechanical, thermal, and optical characteristics of the resultant films were investigated. It was found that the polydopamine coating on CNTs improved the mechanical, thermal, and optical properties of the films as compared to those of pure PVA, PVA/pristine CNT, and PVA/acid-treated CNT films. Moreover, the resultant film also demonstrated good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in comparison to pure PVA.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000805Polyvinyl alcoholCarbon nanotubesPackagingSurface modificationAntibacterial
spellingShingle Mahjabin Moon
Samiya Rahman Mim
Md. Muktadir Billah
A.K.M. Masud
Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
Heliyon
Polyvinyl alcohol
Carbon nanotubes
Packaging
Surface modification
Antibacterial
title Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
title_full Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
title_fullStr Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
title_short Synthesis and characterization of surface modified MWCNTs reinforced PVA composite films
title_sort synthesis and characterization of surface modified mwcnts reinforced pva composite films
topic Polyvinyl alcohol
Carbon nanotubes
Packaging
Surface modification
Antibacterial
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000805
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AT mdmuktadirbillah synthesisandcharacterizationofsurfacemodifiedmwcntsreinforcedpvacompositefilms
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