Abstract
Polypropylene / organically modified montmorillonite nanocomposites were prepared using polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride as compatibilizer by the melt blending method. The structural, mechanical and gas barrier properties of the prepared nanocomposites containing various amounts of organoclay (i.e. 0, 2, 5, 7 and 10 wt%) were investigated to evaluate their potential as food packaging materials. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) profiles of the nanocomposites and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph showed that polypropylene chains have intercalated between silicate layers of organoclay. The mechanical properties tests showed that the tensile modulus and strength of the nanocomposites increased on increasing the clay loading, while the strain at the break decreased. The gas permeability tests demonstrated that adding organoclay into polypropylene matrix enhances the barrier property of the matrix against O2 , CO2 and water vapour.
© 2013 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co.
