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Study on Antibacterial Powder Coatings Based on Halloysite/Biopolymer Compounds.
Katarzyna Krawczyk1, Barbara Pilch-Pitera2, Michał Kędzierski3
1Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 11, 2025
Summary
This study introduces eco-friendly antibacterial polyester coatings using natural biopolymers immobilized on halloysite nanotubes. These sustainable coatings offer a silver-free approach to combatting bacterial growth effectively.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Developing effective antibacterial coatings is crucial for public health and material longevity.
- Traditional antibacterial agents often involve heavy metals, raising environmental concerns.
- Biopolymers offer a sustainable alternative for antimicrobial applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop eco-friendly, silver-free antibacterial polyester powder coatings.
- To utilize biopolymers (polylysine and quaternized chitosan) immobilized on halloysite nanotubes as antimicrobial agents.
- To evaluate the performance of these novel coatings.
Main Methods:
- Hybrid additives of polylysine (PLY) or quaternized chitosan (CH-Q) immobilized on halloysite nanotubes (HAL) were synthesized.
- These hybrids (HAL/PLY and HAL/CH-Q) were incorporated into polyester powder coatings.
- Coatings were analyzed for morphology, mechanical properties, water resistance, and antibacterial efficacy using ISO 22196 standards.
Main Results:
- The HAL/PLY coating exhibited potent antibacterial activity, reducing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by over 99.99%.
- The HAL/CH-Q coating showed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus (98.65%) and moderate activity against Escherichia coli (50.23%).
- Immobilization enhanced biopolymer dispersion and coating barrier properties, enabling a silver-free antibacterial effect.
Conclusions:
- Eco-friendly antibacterial polyester powder coatings can be successfully developed using biopolymer-halloysite nanotube hybrids.
- This approach provides a sustainable strategy for creating multifunctional coatings with inherent antimicrobial properties.
- The study highlights the potential of natural antimicrobial agents for advanced material applications.
