Functionalized polypropylene with acryl amide (AAm) and itaconic acid (IA) were prepared in the molten state in the presence of dicumyl peroxide. The effects of the concentration of both monomers on the degree of functionalization and properties of the products were investigated by FT-IR, contact angle measurement and DSC analysis. It was found that the degree of functionalization depends on the initial concentration of both monomers that used in the reaction. The influence of the AAm and IA content on the melting and crystallization temperature of PP was investigated by DSC. The contact angle of water on film surfaces of the functionalized PP (PP-g-AAm and PP-g-IA) decreased with increasing modified polymer content. From FT-IR spectra of functionalized PP a calculation was made of carbonyl index on the films surfaces. It was found that the higher intensity of the carbonyl index, the lower contact angle value and the lower crystallinity confirmed the existence of functionalized AAm and/or IA in PP. It was concluded from the different characterization methods that the polarity and percentage of functionalized PP were increased up to 3 phr for both monomers, and then it was decreased by increasing the amount of monomers and had a threshold value, due to nucleating agents of monomers in PP.

Chitosan‐carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) full polysaccharide membrane was prepared by cross‐linking of chitosan with CMC dialdehyde and subsequent reductive amination. CMC dialdehyde molecule was prepared by periodate oxidation of CMC and then applied as a cross‐linking agent to form a new membrane network. The properties of oxidized CMC were investigated by various methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and viscosity test. Then, novel chitosan‐CMC silver nanocomposite was prepared using chitosan‐CMC as a carrier. The structure of the chitosan‐CMC membrane and the silver nanocomposite were confirmed by FT‐IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TEM images indicate that the chitosan‐CMC nanocomposite comprises silver nanoparticles with diameters in the range of about 5–20 nm. The antibacterial studies of the nanocomposite were also evaluated. The chitosan‐CMC silver nanocomposite demonstrates good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.