Investigation of the effect of using ZnO/TiO2 nano particles on properties of the polyethylene terephthalate preform and beverage bottles

Abstract

In this study poly ethylene terephthalate (PET) based extrudate contains nano ZnO/TiO₂ particles was produced. Pure and nano PET-based preforms and bottles were made at 0,1,2 and 3% nano loading respectively. PET preform quality tests showed that nanoparticles had no effect on the shape and thickness of preforms but when the nano concentration was increased from 1 to 3 percent, colored birefringent at the edge and black birefringence stripes of preforms were decreased. SEM images of bottle layer at different nano loading showed that the distribution of spherical particles of ZnO in the PET was very well in the PET matrix and TiO₂ particles has better dispersion compared to nano-ZnO. The results of optical transmittance spectra of the beverage bottle wall showed that highest uv absorption wavelength was observed at bottles with 3 % nano particles loading and the bottles with nanoparticles offered a higher shielding effect against the color of contents compared to samples containing the nanoparticles. FTIR analysis showed that combination of TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles to PET matrix, led to new peaks appeared at nanocomposites. It was observed that the growth of Escherichia coli (EC) and staphylococcus aureus (SA) on PET layer was prohibited by adding nanoparticles to polymer matrix.