study of antibacterial effects and physical characters of paper coated with nanoclay and homogenized nanoclay

Abstract

Antibacterial papers such as food packaging papers are important for human health. In this study, with the aim of the production of environmentally friendly antibacterial paper, nanoclay was selected as a productive agent of antibacterial effect. Since the effectiveness of nanoclay depends on the amount of its negative charge, nanoclay was homogenized using a homogenizer until be processed a homogeneous structure with more negative charge. Due to the negativity of charge of fibers and clay nanoparticles, Nanoclays was combined with starch at levels of 1, 3 and 4%, and the suspension was applied to on surface of the paper as an overlay using Auto Bar Coater. Antibacterial and physical properties of papers were evaluated. The results showed that nanoclays had a significantly effect on inhibiting the growth of bacteria and were able to reduce the growth of bacteria even at low levels of consumption. Water absorption of papers decreased and their resistance to air increased. Hence it can be said that homogenized nanoclay can be a desirable factor in the production of packaging papers with low water absorption, high resistance to air and resistant to bacterial microorganisms.

Keywords

• Coating of paper
• Nanoclay
• homogenized nanoclay
• antibacterial and physical properties