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Biocidal polymer coatings based on porphyrin-modified epoxy-amine networks
For the first time, a pronounced biocidal activity of modified polymers with a porphyrin content of 21.4 μM
(0.002 wt%) against Staphylococcus aureus was demonstrated. In order to develop new biocidal polymer coatings,
a study was carried out on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and porphyrin-modified oligomeric diamine
systems. The study investigated the solubility of porphyrins in oligomers through experimental and theoretical
means, using Van Krevelen’s approach of additive group contributions. Fully cured epoxy-amine polymer materials
modified with varied free-base tetraarylporphyrins were obtained. The materials were studied by means of
thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The proposed
approach to the formation of modified epoxy-amine materials allows preservation of the photophysical properties
of porphyrins, including their photostability. The addition of modifiers in 4.28–21.4 μM range of concentrations
makes it possible to keep the thermophysical and thermochemical properties of the polymer matrix.