Technical feasibility in the development of multifunctional fibers based on polyester hybrid nanocomposites: nanofunctionalized hospital curtains

• Grant number: 20/09847-0
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Antonio Milani e Lopes
• Grantee: Sergio Antonio Milani e Lopes
• CNAE: Fiação de fibras artificiais e sintéticas ; Fabricação de fibras artificiais e sintéticas
• Principal investigators: Luciano Avallone Bueno
• Associated researchers: Danilo Justino Carastan ; Fabio Furlan Ferreira ; Izabel Fernanda Machado ; Paula Silvia Haddad Ferreira ; Vanessa Barbosa Malaquias
• Associated scholarship(s): 22/04257-5 - Technical feasibility in the development of multifunctional fibers based on polyester hybrid nanocomposites: nanofunctionalized hospital curtains, BP.TT; 22/01088-8 - Technical feasibility in the development of multifunctional fibers based on polyester hybrid nanocomposites: nanofunctionalized hospital curtains, BP.TT; 22/00486-0 - Characterization of nanoparticles and polyester-based nanocomposite, BP.TT

Abstract

Br Goods operates in the hospital market, selling several products, including hospital curtains, made in Polyester. Hospital infections are a growing concern and, based on estimates that nationally the rate of hospital infections reaches 15% of hospitalizations and due to the pandemic generated by COVID-19, Br Goods intends to minimize the risk of proliferation of viruses and bacteria by contact with the surface of its products, making them self-sanitizing. In addition, a big demand from the market is to add other features to the curtains, such as flame retardant and self-cleaning, UV radiation protection. The innovation is in the development of a composite material based on Polyester and silver nanoparticles (AgNP), ZnO, MgO and TiO2 that presents antimicrobial activities, flame retardant and self-cleaning, protection against UV radiation . The curtain is produced by the process of extrusion of polyester mass. In this context, the methodology to add the desired properties will be by introducing an additive containing the nanoparticles next to the polyester pellets, allowing the production of a polyester masterbach with nanoparticles scattered throughout the body of the product to be extruded. The need to use a compatibility agent between AgNPs and polymer to prevent the loss of mechanical and physical properties of the product due to the incorporation of nanoparticles will be evaluated. The main result of this project will be to obtain a PET-based hybrid nanocomsome containing different metallic nanoparticles such as TiO2, ZnO, Ag, MgO, in order to provide the following simultaneous functionalities: antimicrobials (bactericide, virucide and fungicide), UV radiation protection, self-cleaning effect and flame retardant. This nanocomcommodite with high concentration will be supplied to one of Br Goods' main products for incorporation into pure PET for the production of multifunctional fiber by extrusion, for the manufacture of hospital bed partition curtains. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DA SILVA, DANIEL J.; GRAMCIANINOV, GUILHERME B.; JORGE, PAMELA Z.; MALAQUIAS, VANESSA B.; MORI, AUGUSTO A.; HIRATA, MARIO H.; LOPES, SERGIO A. M.; BUENO, LUCIANO A.; CHAMPEAU, MATHILDE; CARASTAN, DANILO J.. PVC containing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties effective against SARS-CoV-2. RONTIERS IN CHEMISTR, v. 11, p. 15-pg., 2023-03-13. (20/09847-0)