An Innovative Approach for the Fabrication of Functional Antibacterial Membranes for Face Mask

Cakmak M., TOPÇU ŞENDOĞDULAR S.

POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES, vol.36, no.2, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/pat.70091
  • Journal Name: POLYMERS FOR ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Applied Science & Technology Source, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: limestone, membrane, PP/PEG blends, silver, supercritical CO2
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Number of studies on the hydrophobic and antibacterial membranes has shown significant growth recently, particularly in masks created in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In this study, the supercritical CO2 (scCO(2) ) annealing, a promising green alternative post-processing method to traditional solvents for polymers, polymer blends, and composites, has been focused. And polymeric membranes were also improved with silver (inorganic) or limestone (organic) particles as antibacterial additives to the polypropylene/polyethylene glycol (PP/PEG) blend. The effect on the structure and properties of the synthesized membranes were examined including the antibacterial and topographical properties before and after CO2 annealing. With increasing contact angle by scCO(2) annealing, it was possible to create superhydrophobic surfaces and antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli), especially for silver-loaded PP-PEG membranes based on the collected results. This study is thought to boost the effectiveness of masks against bacteria, the main causes of today's hygiene related epidemics. Finally, scCO(2) can be safely applied in mask and membrane production as well as biomedical applications.