Investigation of Morphological and Optical Characteristics of (PMMA/PS/Al 2 O 3 ) Nanocomposites and Its Application as Antibacterial

Abstract

Abstract The casting method prepared a nanocomposite of a (PMMA/PS) polymeric blend with the nanomaterial (Al2O3). The morphological, optical, and antibacterial characteristics were studied. The optical microscope photos demonstrated high homogeneity, fine dispersal of Al2O3 NPs inside the blend polymer films, and the formation of a charge transfer complex. SEM images showed agglomeration of a small and close-packed group of elliptical particles on the surface of the polymeric matrix as a result of adding a different number of NPs. The absorbance increases with the increasing concentration of Al2O3, the additive, while the transmittance reductions with the rising content. The optical constant of PMMA/PS/Al2O3 nanocomposites were also tested. The energy gap of indirect transitions (allowed, forbidden) reduces with increases in the concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticles. The nanocomposite films have antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.