Abstract
A new category of thermally stable and soluble polyketone (PKtph) together with its related zinc oxide-doped nanocomposites (PKtphZnO(a-d)) based on 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone moiety as a branched moiety was synthesized through Friedel-Crafts reaction. The desired PKtph characterized through certain characterization techniques including FTIR, viscosity, solubility, XRD, and gel permeation chromatography. Its thermal properties were evaluated by TGA and DTG as well. Furthermore, PKtphZnO(a-d)nanocomposites were fabricated with different loading ratios of ZnO nanoparticles (2%, 5%, 10%, and 20%), and the results were confirmed through FT-IR and XRD. TGA results established a significant enhancement in the thermal behavior of polyketone with an increase in the doping of ZnO nanoparticles. The evaluation of morphological properties using TEM and SEM revealed the formation of PKtphZnO(a-d)nanocomposites with spherical to sub-spherical ZnO nanoparticles in the size range of 25-30 nm loaded on polymer sheets. The nanocomposites were examined for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. Though the tested polyketone did not show any activity against the microbial strains, the addition of ZnO nanoparticles resulted in an increased activity againstS. Aureus, P. Aeruginosa, andC. Albicans.