3D coating layers of polyhydroquinone di-imidazopyridine (PIPD) fibers to improve their mechanical, interfacial and antimicrobial properties

The effect of growing CuO nanowires decorated with Ag nanoparticle in the presence of poly(dopamine) (PDA) as intermediate agent on PIPD fiber surface was evaluated. This treatment exhibited significant enhancement of the interfacial and mechanical performance, along with increment of the antimicrobial activity against E. coli as a model for Gram-negative bacteria. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) validates the growth of CuO NWs and Ag NPs on the surface of PIPD fiber. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and the ratio of weight loss analyses supported the above results. The interface shear strength (IFSS) between the PIPD fiber and epoxy resin was improved by 72%; and the coated Ag nanoparticles raised the fiber tensile strength (TS) by 13%. The influence of UV radiation and hydrothermal degradation on PIPD fiber was studied, and the UV and hydrothermal aging resistance were both increased by 15% and 22% respectively. The antimicrobial activity analysis results strong efficiency of the coated PIPD fibers by Ag NPs against gram negative bacteria E. coli.