Synthesis and study of structural, physical and anti-microbial properties of ZnO nanoparticles and polymer nanocomposite (PVA/ZnO) for food packaging

In this study، ZnO nanoparicles and polymer nanocomposite were synthesized for film preparing of food packaging. The structural، physical and anti-microbial properties were then studied. ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by sol- gel method. The Structural analysis by XRD verified the formation of zinc oxide phase. TEM images showed that the nanoparticles are spherical shape and their average size between 20 to 25nm. To prepare nanofilm، Zno nanoparticles were added at three concentration levels of 1،3 and 5%wt to the PVA matrix which prepared by solution processing method. SEM images of the film showed that in all samples the nanoparticles were distributed well in the polymer matrix. With using the Fourier Transmission Infrared (FTIR) at a wave length of 558cm- 1 Zn-0 band at all of nanoparticle concentrations were establish. The effect of inserting ZnO on the mechanical and antibacterial properties and moisture content of the PVA were also investigated. The increase of ZnO concentration in PVA from one to three percents causes the increase of tensile strength by 11%. The moisture content reduced up to 20%، when nanoparticles concentration increases from zero to five percents. Furthermore، by adding ZnO on PVA the antibacterial activity of the composite film was further improved.