%0 Journal Article %A Andrew P. Hurt and George J. Vine and Samantha E. Booth and Nichola J. Coleman %D 2012 %J International Journal of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering %B World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology %I Open Science Index 72, 2012 %T Preparation and Antibacterial Properties of Ag+-Exchanged Tobermorite-Chitosan Films %U https://publications.waset.org/pdf/15222 %V 72 %X Silver-exchanged zeolites and clays are used in polymer composites to confer broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties on a range of functional materials. Tobermorite is a layer lattice mineral whose potential as a carrier for Ag+ ions in antibacterial composites has not yet been investigated. Accordingly, in this study, synthetic tobermorite was ion-exchanged with 10 wt% silver ions and the resulting material was incorporated into a composite film with chitosan. Chitosan is a biocompatible, biodegradable derivative of chitin, a polysaccharide obtained from the shells of crustaceans. The solvent-cast Ag+-exchanged tobermorite-chitosan films were found to exhibit antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. %P 1172 - 1175