Rheology of cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanowires for the development of screen-printed antibacterial surfaces

TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (T-CNF) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were formulated as active inks. Their rheological properties investigated to design optimal conditions for processing by the screen-printing process, with aim of preparing antibacterial patterns. Rheological experiments mimicking process applied different ink formulations investigate their thixotropic viscosity properties. The conducted at 1wt% total mass content ratios T-CNF/Ag NWs showed that recovery (%), time are formulation dependent. A ratio 2:1 (T-CNF/Ag 2.5wt% then selected prepare an suitable screen printing. Printing defects corrected addition water-soluble polymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). printed on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate displayed a 67.4% activity against E. coli in standard contact test, transparency superior 70%, proving promising features developed solution packaging applications.