Abstract: Polypropylene (PP)/ZnO whisker composites were prepared with the help of compatilizer, and the ZnO whisker was surface treated by different coupling agents. The mechanical properties, crystallization behaviors and antibacterial performance were investigated. The results indicated that types of coupling agents did not influence the crystallinity and content of β-form crystal of the composite, and the treatment of coupling agents also did not damage the structure of ZnO whisker. The mechanical properties were improved in the presence of surface-modified ZnO whisker. This may be due to the formation of β crystals induced by ZnO whisker. Moreover, when 4 wt % of surface-modified ZnO whisker was incorporated, the composites exhibit a high sterilization rate up to 50 % against staphylococcus aureus, escherichia coli and bacillus subtilis.

Key words: polypropylene, tetrapod-shaped zinc oxide whisker, composite, antibacterial, crystallization behavior