Polypropylene-based antibacterial and conductive composite planks: manufacturing process and property evaluations

Abstract

Antibacterial materials are one of the important materials in our daily lives, especially in the medicine where antibacterial efficacy is indispensable. Moreover, the precise electronic instrument also requires highly electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and as such to prevent mutual interference. Therefore, the acquisition of antibacterial property and EMI SE is essential. In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT) and triclosan (TCS) are used as conductive and antibacterial substances separately during the production of polypropylene (PP)-based antibacterial and conductive composite planks. The planks are tested for a series of physical property tests, EMI SE measurement, and antibacterial efficacy as related to the CNT content and the TCS content. The test results indicate regardless of whether it is CNT or TCS that is added, the planks exhibit good crystallinity. Furthermore, the presence of TCS contributes good antibacterial efficacy against staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus), and the antibacterial efficacy effectuated by 0.1 wt% TCS also meets the related EU standard. In addition, the incorporation of both CNT and TCS adversely affects the EMI SE of the planks, but the resulting EMI SE remains to be between −15 dB and −20 dB.