Transparent ZnO/polycarbonate nanocomposite for food packaging application

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO)–polycarbonate (PC) nanocomposite films were prepared by blade coating method by using pre-synthesized spherical ZnO nanoparticles of 15–20 nm size and pre-dissolved polycarbonate. The blend was homogenized by sonication and the films were dried in an oven at moderate temperature. Various films with different % loading of ZnO nanoparticles in PC were prepared and their effect on antibacterial properties was studied. It is observed that increasing wt-% loading of ZnO nanoparticles in PC leads to enhanced antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The freshly prepared ZnO nanoparticles were thoroughly characterized by XRD, SEM, UV-visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy before their use in preparing nanocomposite films. Contact angle measurement of the films was studied to ascertain their hydrophobic behavior. Such nanocomposite films have potential in various packaging applications because of their effective antibacterial and UV-blocking properties and hydrophobic nature.