The present invention relates to a method for producing antimicrobial nanofilms packaging cover based on Titanium nano-dioxide through extrusion for extension of food shelf-life. The method comprises the steps of providing nano-silver and nano-clay particles which are antimicrobial agents to enhance mechanical properties of packaging in food industry; and evaluating effects of nano clay and nano silver packaging on the growth of these bacteria within 6 days of shelf life keeping at 4 C. The silver and clay nanoparticles are analyzed using AFM, SEM, FESEM, EDX, FTIR and TEM, wherein the size of clay and silver nanoparticles are measured 15 nm and 35 nm, respectively.

An electrode with varying impedances includes a plurality of layers that are compressed together with varying compressions forces. A first compression force is used at the perimeter of the electrode and a second compression force is used towards the center of the electrode. The first compression force at the perimeter is lesser than the second compression force towards the center and creates a greater measured impedance at the perimeter of the electrode than at the center of the electrode.

An absorbent wound dressing comprises a hydrophilic porous substrate and polymer-stabilized silver nanoparticles distributed throughout the porous substrate. The silver nanoparticles have a particle size d.sub.50 in the range of about 45 nm to about 85 nm and the silver nanoparticles are present in the substrate in an amount of about 0.16% to about 1.5% by weight of the total weight of the substrate. The wound dressing produces a 7-day log reduction of 4 or more for bacteria in accordance with the Modified AATCC Test Method 100. The wound dressing is also non-cytotoxic in accordance with ISO 10993-5 standard procedure for medical device cytotoxicity assessment.

The invention relates to a process for preparing an electrically conductive composite film, in particular in the form of a self-supported film or of a prepreg, comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer resin and electrically conductive particles chosen from a) graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibres, and mixtures thereof; and b) filiform metal nanoparticles; to a process for preparing an electrically conductive laminated composite structure comprising such an electrically conductive composite film; to said electrically conductive composite film, to said electrically conductive laminated composite structure, and also to the uses thereof.

Cable ties including an antimicrobial component and optionally a detectable component are disclosed. More particularly, cable ties including a composition having a base plastic, an antimicrobial additive and optionally a detectable additive selected from a detectable metal additive, an X-ray detectable additive and combinations thereof as well as methods of making the same are disclosed. Also, cable ties including an antimicrobial metallic barb and a composition having a base plastic and optionally an antimicrobial additive and/or a detectable additive selected from a detectable metal additive, an X-ray detectable additive and combinations thereof are disclosed.

The present method for evaluating an orientation of silver nanowires is a method for measuring an orientation of silver nanowires included in a polyvinyl alcohol film, the method including measuring, using linearly polarized near-infrared light, a first transmittance T1 for polarized light perpendicular to an orientation direction of silver nanowires and a second transmittance T0 for polarized light parallel to the orientation direction of the silver nanowires in a polyvinyl alcohol film including the silver nanowires, and determining an orientation to be high in a case where a ratio (T1/T0) of the first transmittance T1 to the second transmittance T0 is greater than 1, and determining the orientation to be low in a case where the ratio is close to 1.

Methods for generating patterned nanoparticle assemblies in thin films of supramolecular nanocomposites are provided that allow control over microdomain morphology, periodicity, and orientation by tuning the assembly kinetics and pathways of the system. Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) with nanoparticles formed on lithographically-patterned templates produce patterned supramolecular nanocomposite films and patterns of nanoparticles. DSA may be used to guide the formation of concentric rings with radii spanning approximately 150 nm to 1150 nm and ring widths spanning about 30 nm to 60 nm, for example. When plasmonic nanoparticles are used, ring nanodevice arrays can be fabricated in one step, and the completed devices produce high-quality orbital angular momentum (OAM).

A masterbatch may be blended with virgin polymer to add desired color or other properties to the virgin polymer prior to further processing. Methods and processes for producing an antimicrobial and/or antiviral polymeric masterbatch that may be used to add antimicrobial, antiviral and/or antifungal properties to a virgin polymer without significantly degrading the properties of the virgin polymer. The masterbatch may be extruded into pellets or formed into other particles for subsequent blending with the virgin polymer to add antimicrobial and antiviral properties to the polymeric materials. The method includes a heat treatment after compounding the base polymer with the antimicrobial, antiviral and/or antifungal are compounded together. The heat treatment comprises heating the masterbatch blend to a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the melting point of the base polymer.

Multicolored flexible wearables include a first portion having a first flexible polymer forming a toroid and including colorant(s), an exposed first outer surface, an exposed second outer surface, and a recess in the first outer surface not reaching the second outer surface. A second portion formed of a second flexible polymer fills a majority of the recess and includes colorant(s). The first and second flexible polymers have different colors and are permanently bonded together. Precious material particles may be disposed within the first and/or second flexible polymers. One or more of the colorants may have a color matching a color of the precious material particles. One method of bonding the portions includes depositing a liquid second portion into the recess and then curing it. Another method includes depositing a solid second portion into the recess and then curing a liquid layer of polymer between the first portion and second portion.

A carbon nanotube (CNT)/polymer film or CNT/polymer composite structure containing CNTs, arranged uniformly in a randomly oriented distribution in the polymer matrix. The CNT sheet is manufactured by applying a highly dispersed CNT-polymer-solvent suspension, mixed using ultrasonication, over a carrier, using a coating process, and drying to form the CNT/polymer film. The CNT film is useful in making CNT composite laminates and structures having utility for electro-thermal heating, deicing, shielding for wire & cable, thermal interface pads, energy storage, heat dissipation, conductive composites, antennas, reflectors, and electromagnetic environmental effects (E3), such as lightning strike protection, EMP protection, directed energy protection, and EMI shielding in a variety of form factors such as sheets, roll stocks, and tapes.