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. 2024 Jul 12;17(14):3465.
doi: 10.3390/ma17143465.

Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Graphene-Polyamide 6 Composite

Paweł Głuchowski  1 , Marta Macieja  1   2 , Robert Tomala  1 , Mariusz Stefanski  1 , Wiesław Stręk  1 , Maciej Ptak  1 , Damian Szymański  1 , Konrad Szustakiewicz  2 , Adam Junka  3 , Bartłomiej Dudek  3
Affiliations

Mechanical and Antimicrobial Properties of the Graphene-Polyamide 6 Composite

Paweł Głuchowski et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

This paper presents the synthesis and characterization of graphene-polymer composites, focusing on their mechanical and antibacterial properties. Graphene flakes were obtained via an electrochemical method and integrated into polyamide 6 (PA6) matrices using melt intercalation. Various characterization techniques confirmed the quality of the graphene flakes, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) imaging. Mechanical tests showed an increase in the elastic modulus with graphene incorporation, while the impact strength decreased. The SEM analysis highlighted the dispersion of the graphene flakes within the composites and their impact on fracture behavior. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated significant antibacterial properties of the composites, attributed to both oxidative stress and mechanical damage induced by the graphene flakes. The results suggest promising applications for graphene-polymer composites in advanced antimicrobial materials.

Keywords: PA6; antimicrobial activity; composite; graphene flakes; mechanical properties; polyamide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Standard shape 5A (left side) for the elasticity and tensile tests, standard shape 6A (center) for the impact tests, plates from which the discs were cut for the microbiological tests (right side).
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) XRD patterns, (b) Raman spectrum, (c) IR spectrum (the numbered areas correspond to the vibrations of individual bonds of functional groups on the graphene surface), and (d) TEM image of the graphene flakes used for composites.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM image of the PA6 + 1 wt-% graphene composite. The red circles indicate the locations where the graphene flakes are present.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Stress–strain plot for PA6/graphene composites.
Figure 5
Figure 5
SEM images of the regions where fractures occurred due to mechanical tests in the PA6 + 1 wt-% graphene composite.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Reduction of Staphylococcus aureus cells on the PA6 composites with various concentrations of graphene flakes. Asterisks indicate significant differences between the individual samples.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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