Investigation of Barrier Properties of Poly(ethylene vinyl acetate)/Organoclay Nanocomposite Films Prepared by Phase Inversion Method

Abstract

Abstract Summary: In this research work, to reduce permeability of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) packaging films, organoclay nanocomposites of these thermoplastics were prepared by solution method. Organoclay are mixed with polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with 18 and 28% of vinyl acetate (VA) content in solution phase. Solutions of 3, 5 and 7% of organoclay are prepared under reflux condition and then nanocomposite films are prepared by thermal phase inversion method. Morphological and gas barrier properties of different prepared samples have been investigated. Morphology of prepared nanocomposite films and order of exfoliation of clay were investigated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) instruments. XRD and TEM indicated that the prepared nanocomposites had predominantly intercalated morphologies. Gas permeability measurements showed that the presence of organoclay significantly increases the barrier properties of EVA/nanocomposite films even at the low concentration of clay.