Preparation of Antimicrobial Polyethylene/Inorgano-Organo-Vermiculite Hybrid Material

Clay mineral vermiculite (VT) was modified by organic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, cerium and aluminum chloride solutions. Prepared materials were used as VT nanofillers to the polyethylene (PE) matrix. The composites of PE with VT nanofillers were prepared by melt compounding technique. Content of organic and inorganic constituents was determined. The X-ray diffraction patterns of VT nanofillers confirmed intercalation of organic and inorganic cations into the VT interlayer space. Antimicrobial activity of powder VT nanofillers and surfaces of PE composite plates was tested on different bacterial strains: 1) Gram-negative, Escherichia coli, 2) Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus, and 3) yeast, Candida albicans. The results of antimicrobial test show that powder VT nanofillers inhibited growth of tested bacteria already after 1 h of action. The surfaces of PE composites showed good antibacterial and antifungal effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, respectively.