Silver-Loaded Cellulose Acetate-g-Poly(ϵ-caprolactone) Composites

Abstract

Cellulose acetate (CA) was grafted with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) PCL oligomers via the ring-opening of ϵ-caprolactone (ϵ-CL) monomer initiated by the hydroxyl functionality of CA. The incorporation of short PCL oligomers in CA's structure caused the transformation of it crystalline domains into amorphous phases (internal plasticization) as observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Another evidence of plasticization induced by grafting was the significant reduction of the degradation temperature and stiffness of the copolymers. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopies and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) verified success the grafting as suggested by the attachment of PCL on the glucose ring and increase in polymer molecular weights after the reaction. Due to the good films forming ability of the synthesized CA grafted with PCL (CA-g-PCL) material, it was loaded with silver nitrate (AgNO3) and the composite was observed to be have bactericidal against a gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and a gram positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis.