Keywords: Composite; Na-montmorillonite; poly(N-hydroxymethyl crylamide); benzoyl peroxide; in situ polymerization

Abstract

In the present study, poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) (PHMAm)/unmodified Namontmorillonite (Na-MMT) composites had been successfully synthesized by in situ radical polymerization and the antibacterial activities of the composites against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria were scrutinized. The structure, morphology, and particle size of prepared composites were characterized by Fourier infrared spectroscopy, Xray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the XRD analysis, the interlayer spacing of montmorillonite layers was expanded. SEM images showed that the morphology of composites was spongy and porous cauliflower-like shape. TEM revealed the Namontmorillonite intercalated in poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide) matrix. All the obtained composites exhibited good antibacterial activity against various pathogens bacterial strain particularly Pseudomonas aeroginosa Gram (-) using disk diffusion method. The antibacterial activity of composites was increased with HMAm monomer content except Escherichia coli 35218.