Preparation and characterization of chitosan hybrid membranes containing polyethylacrylate and polybutylacrylate.

Chitosan hybrid membranes were prepared in the presence of polyethylacrylate and polybutylacrylate and characterized by measuring stress, strain, Young's modulus, swelling behavior and antibacterial properties against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria using IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the mechanical properties of the hybrid membranes were enhanced using polybutylacrylate. SEM images showed homogeneity of the prepared membranes. The swelling degree was of the order chitosan > chitosan/polyethylacrylate > chitosan/polybutylacrylate. Antibacterial properties of the hybrid membranes with polybutylacrylate and polyethylacrylate were higher than those of chitosan membranes without any additives.