Antibacterial and mechanical properties of honeycomb ceramic materials incorporated with silver and zinc

The antibacterial and mechanical properties of heat-resistant honeycomb ceramic materials produced from red mud industrial waste and doped with Zn and Ag are determined. Excellent antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli are obtained by the plate counting and vibration methods. When 5% and 6% Zn are added to the honeycombs doped with 0.3% Ag, the antibacterial rates reach 98.9% and 99.5%, respectively. The mechanical properties are evaluated by monitoring the bending strength, open porosity, water absorption capability, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Zn and Ag particles are distributed uniformly in the honeycomb ceramics and the crystalline structure of the ceramic materials is not altered after Zn and Ag incorporation consequently enabling good dispersion of the antibacterial metals.