Polymer/clay nanocomposites and their gas barrier properties

Polymer organic–inorganic hybrids, where the high‐aspect ratio inorganic filler can be delaminated at the nanometer scale, are able to increase their enhancement very significantly at very low‐filler volume. Necessary requirement for the use of materials in packaging and storage applications are presented by gas barrier properties. Modified type of montmorillonite (MMT) 30B, 25A, 93A and natural type of MMT Na+ were used as the inorganic phase. Fillers were incorporated to the linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) and poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix. The nanofiller particles were generated via melt compounding in KO‐kneader. In case of PVC, the plasticizers act as the intercalation agents. The ion–dipole method was used for intercalation process. Prepared samples were tested for water vapor transmission (WVT), O2, and CO2 permeability. Next, the PVC samples were tested for the migration behavior of plasticizers. The structure was determined using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the high level of exfoliation could positively affect tested properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1418–1424, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers