Synthesis and characterization of low-density polyethylene decorated with Ag/rGO nanocomposite for packaging applications

F ILMS of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) either blended or coated with different weight percentage (2, 4 and 6 %) of silver-modified reduced graphene oxide (Ag/rGO) have been prepared.Neat LDPE and LDPE blended with Ag/rGO nanocomposite films were prepared by simple casting method while LDPE films coated by Ag/rGO nanocomposite were prepared by applying corona discharge to the as prepared neat LDPE.The prepared samples have been characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDAX, TEM, DSC and TGA.The mechanical properties and the antimicrobial activities have been examined and compared with that of neat LDPE.From the obtained results, the mechanical properties of polyethylene film were enhanced by blending with very small amount of the as-prepared nanocomposite.The tensile strength of the LDPE film increased up to 60% when added just 4 wt% of Ag/rGO nanocomposite.Coating LDPE by Ag/rGO nanocomposite did not improve the mechanical properties but exhibited antimicrobial activities against E.Coli and S.Aureus.As the % of Ag/rGO nanocomposite increased in the surface coating layer the antibacterial efficiency increased.