High-performance aminated poly(phenylene sulfide)/ZnO nanocomposites for medical applications

An aminated poly(phenylene sulfide) derivative (PPS-NH2) has been melt-blended with different contents of ZnO nanoparticles, and the morphology, thermal, mechanical, tribological, antibacterial, and dielectric properties of the resulting nanocomposites have been investigated. The nanoparticles were dispersed within the matrix without the need for surfactants or coupling agents. A gradual rise in the crystallization temperature and the degree of crystallinity was found with increasing ZnO loading, confirming that the nanoparticles act as nucleating agents for PPS-NH2 crystallization. The nanoparticles reduced the water absorption and strongly increased the thermal stability of the matrix, leading to an extraordinary increase in the initial degradation temperature of 80 °C at 8.0 wt % nanoparticle content. The results showed that the stiffness, strength, toughness, glass transition, and heat distortion temperature were remarkably enhanced, whereas the coefficient of thermal expansion decreased upon addition of ZnO, ascribed to strong hydrogen bonding interactions between the amino groups of the matrix and the hydroxyl moieties of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the nanocomposites retained the tensile properties after being exposed to several cycles of steam sterilization. More importantly, an unprecedented drop in wear rate of nearly 100-fold was attained in the nanocomposite with the highest loading, demonstrating the suitability of these nanoparticles for providing wear resistance to the matrix. All the nanocomposites displayed low dielectric constant and dielectric loss, hence can be employed as insulating materials in electrosurgical applications. They also exhibited active inhibition against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which was gradually enhanced with increasing ZnO content. These nanocomposites are suitable as lightweight high-performance materials in the field of medicine and dentistry.