Thermal properties and hydrophilicity of antibacterial poly(phenylene sulfide) nanocomposites reinforced with zinc oxide-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes

A nanomaterial in the form of zinc oxide-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-ZnO) was synthesized, and new nanocomposites were prepared by blending together different amounts of poly(phenylene sulfide) (PPS) as matrix and MWCNTs–ZnO as fillers in a torque rheometer with an internal mixer. MWCNTs-ZnO enhanced the barrier performance of PPS in terms of crystallinity, path blocking, and coordination reaction. Through tensile test, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, evaluation of Escherichia coli inhibition, and water permeability, the properties of pure PPS and PPS/MWCNTs-ZnO nanocomposites were characterized and compared. The results showed that MWCNTs-ZnO played a role in heterogeneous nucleation. When the content of MWCNTs-ZnO was 0.4 phr, the crystallization temperature, thermostability, tensile strength, elongation at break, and hydrophilicity approached maximum values, and the microscopic morphology changed from the original brittle fracture to a ductile fracture. PPS/MWCNTs-ZnO nanocomposites showed improved barrier performance due to three possible factors: (1) extending the transmission path due to the presence of nanofillers; (2) enhancing crystallization; (3) coordination between PPS and MWCNTs-ZnO. Finally, FTIR analysis showed that PPS and MWCNTs-ZnO formed coordination between them, which improved the properties of nanocomposites. Graphical abstract