Preparation of rechargeable biocidal polypropylene by reactive extrusion with diallylamino triazine

Biocidal polypropylene (PP) was prepared by using a reactive extrusion process, in which PP was grafted with an N-halamine precursor, 2, 4-diamino-6-diallylamino-1,3,5-triazine(NDAM). After chlorination the grated PP was converted to biocidal halamine structures. Effects of monomer and initiator concentration on grafting yield, thermal properties, and biocidal efficacy were studied. The Fourier transformed spectroscopy (FTIR) results and nitrogen analysis confirmed the graft polymerization on PP backbone during the reactive extrusion. The results also indicated that at low monomer concentration, increase in initiator concentration led to increase in PP chain scission and decrease in mixing torque, or polymer chain length. As the monomer concentration increases, grafted monomer content in the products showed a steady increase, indicating more grafting copolymerization in the system. The halogenated products exhibited potent antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, and the antimicrobial properties were durable and regenerable. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.