Investigation of the Effect of Copper Alloy Reinforcement on Mechanical and Microbial Properties of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Polymers

Abstract

Polymer materials are used in many sectors such as automotive, machinery, aviation and medical due to their easy forming, recycling, reuse and strong characteristic properties with their affordable cost. The properties of polymer materials such as thermal, mechanical and electrical conductivity can be improved by using these materials as polymer-metal, polymer-polymer, polymer-fiber composites. This makes polymer composites the preferred material for many specific applications. Metals such as copper and silver are known as metals with antibacterial properties. Therefore, they are used in various antibacterial applications. However, the relatively high cost of these metals limits their use. In this study, the effect of the addition of some copper alloy powders in specific ratios to the antibacterial properties of Polyethylene and Polypropylene matrix, which are used extensively in the health sector, was investigated. Polyethylene and polypropylene were used as matrix materials. Reinforced copper alloy copper-chrome-zirconium (CuCrZr) powder particles were added at a rate of 0.5-1-3 and 5% by machine. Molded samples; Tensile, hardness, impact, density and antimicrobial tests were performed. The results of the tests were examined and the effects of copper alloy amount on polyethylene and polypropylene were determined.

Keywords

• Polyethylene • Polyprpylene
• • Copper powder
• • Antimicrobial effect

Project Number

FYL-2022-10444

Bakır Alaşım Takviyesinin Polietilen ve Polipropilen Polimerlerinin Mekanik ve Mikrobiyal Özelliklerine Etkisinin İncelenmesi

Abstract

Polimer malzemeler kolay şekillendirilmeleri, geri dönüşümleri, yeniden kullanımları ve güçlü karakteristik özellikleri ile uygun maliyetli olmaları nedenleriyle otomotiv, makine, havacılık ve medikal gibi birçok sektörde kullanılmaktadır. Polimer malzemelerin termal, mekanik ve elektriksel iletkenlik gibi özellikleri, bu malzemelerin polimer-metal, polimer-polimer, polimer-lif kompozitleri olarak kullanılmasıyla geliştirilmiştir. Bu polimer kompozitleri birçok özel uygulamada kullanmak için tercih edilir. Bakır ve gümüş gibi metaller, antibakteriyel özelliklere sahip metaller olarak bilinir. Bu nedenle çeşitli antibakteriyel uygulamalarda kullanılırlar. Bununla birlikte, bu metallerin nispeten yüksek maliyeti kullanımlarını sınırlar. Bu çalışmada, sağlık sektöründe yaygın olarak kullanılan Polietilen ve Polipropilen matrisin mekanik ve antibakteriyel özelliklerine belirli oranlarda bakır alaşımlı tozların eklenmesinin etkisi araştırılmıştır. Matris olarak polietilen ve polipropilen kullanılmıştır. Takviye bakır alaşım bakır-krom-zirkonyum (CuCrZr) toz partikülleri ağrılıkça %0.5-1-3 ve 5 oranında eklenmiştir. Malzemeler çift vidalı ekstürüderde karıştırılarak granül haline getirilmiştir. Daha sonra enjeksiyon makinası ile test numuneleri basılmıştır. Kalıplanan numunelere; çekme, sertlik, darbe, yoğunluk ve antimikrobiyal testler yapılmıştır. Testlerin

Keywords

• Polietilen
• • Polipropilen
• • Bakır tozu
• • Antimikrobiyal etki

Supporting Institution

Marmara Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Ofisi tarafından desteklenmiştir.

Project Number

FYL-2022-10444

Thanks

Sağlam Metal San. ve Tic. A.Ş.’de destekleri için teşekkür ederiz.

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