A Novel Sustainable Antimicrobial Polyurethane foam Castor Oil-based.

Infection control is a growing problem in places where hygiene is required particularly in hospitals. Most of the clothing and garments used to protect cross infections from patient to patient and patient to medical personnel possess barrier properties that resist not only the entry of blood and liquids but also microorganisms. The present study developed a novel sustainable antimicrobial polyurethane foam castor oil-based method using ZnO as a reactive filler with different amounts (0, 10, 20, and 30 wt%). To evaluate how the addition of ZnO affects the specific properties of polyurethane foam were used techniques by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density, contact angle, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry (TGA), X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and Compressive strength test, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the optimal composites was investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Incorporating ZnO in the PU matrix caused an increase in the density of composites, which affected directly morphology exhibiting a higher number of cells with a small pore size as the amount of ZnO content was increased. FTIR results indicated that ZnO was hydrogen bonded to the PU foam chains, confirming that they act as nucleating agents. Also, the addition of ZnO improved the hydrophobicity, crystallinity, and thermal and mechanical properties of PU foams. PU/ZnO30% has ideal conditions and efficient antimicrobial activity, making it suitable as an antimicrobial hospital mattress to control hospital infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]