The TiO₂–Clay-LDPE Nanocomposite Packaging Films: Investigation on the Structure and Physicomechanical Properties

Abstract

The role of nanoclays and TiO 2 nanoparticle loadings were investigated on low density polyethylene crystalline structure, in addition to studying packaging film properties such as barrier, thermal and mechanical properties. The polymer crystal study indicated for the orthorhombic crystal phase and about 20% lower degree of crystallinity for nanocomposites containing more than 2 wt.% TiO 2 nanoparticles. Based on the X-ray diffraction technique, the dispersion of nanoclays was improved to almost good degree of clay exfoliation with the company of 4 wt.% TiO 2 nanoparticles. In agreement with XRD results, the TEM morphological studies mainly suggest that TiO 2 has a helpful effect on nanoclay exfoliation. The increase in degradation temperature of nanocomposites may be attributed to the formation of inorganic char on polymer melt. The barrier properties of TiO 2 /clay nanocomposite packaging films depend mainly on nanoclay loading with an unclear trend from TiO 2 nanoparticles. The increase in elastic modulus and the yield stress of nanocomposite films showed great effects on film mechanical properties by nanoclays.

Evaluating the potential of nanoparticles for controlling zinc stearate release from low‐density polyethylene into food simulants

“…24,25 Effectiveness of nanoparticles in barrier properties have been elaborated in many studies and extent of this enhancement can be influenced by many factors: for instance, the extent of nanoparticles dispersion in polymer matrix, which is the most important factor, type of polymer and nanoparticles and compatibilizer. 26,27 The significance of reduction in permeability is elucidated when obtained results were compared with the improvement achieved by other studies for gases, moisture and other volatile compounds. For instance, Dadbin et al reported the oxygen permeability reduction in a LDPE nanocomposite containing 5 wt% nanoclay.…”

Investigating the diffusional behaviour of Irganox®1076 antioxidant in HDPE/Cloisite®15A nanocomposite‐based food contact packaging films: Effect of nanoclay loading

“…Nanofillers have been proved to enhance the barrier properties of polymers, and to impart other additional benefits such as improvements in mechanical properties and weight reduction of the resulting nanocomposite packaging items . In this view, and in order to understand the diffusion phenomena and to develop new barrier materials, various research works were conducted to study the effectiveness of nanoclay incorporation into polymeric substrates to form barrier packaging materials . Most of the reported literature studies of such emerging materials only focused on the transport of gas molecules, mainly oxygen (O 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and water vapor .…”

“…The effect of Cloisite®15A and Cloisite®20A on the O 2 , CO 2 , and water vapor barrier properties of different PE grades based nanocomposite systems was largely investigated during the last decades . For example, Dadfar et al reported that in LDPE/EVA blends filled with 2, 3, and 4 wt% Cloisite®15A, the oxygen permeability reduced by approximately 15%, 29%, and 44%, respectively as compared to neat LDPE.…”

“…6 In this view, and in order to understand the diffusion phenomena and to develop new barrier materials, various research works were conducted to study the effectiveness of nanoclay incorporation into polymeric substrates to form barrier packaging materials. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Most of the reported literature studies of such emerging materials only focused on the transport of gas molecules, mainly oxygen (O 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and water vapor. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] However, and to the best knowledge of the authors, diffusion/migration studies of polymer additives, such as antioxidants, slip agents, antistatic agents, and so on, in polymeric nanocomposites packagings are very scarce and not well documented.…”

“…[16][17][18][19][20][21] The effect of Cloisite®15A and Cloisite®20A on the O 2 , CO 2 , and water vapor barrier properties of different PE grades based nanocomposite systems was largely investigated during the last decades. 7,9,14,15 For example, Dadfar et al 7 reported that in LDPE/EVA blends filled with 2, 3, and 4 wt% Cloisite®15A, the oxygen permeability reduced by approximately 15%, 29%, and 44%, respectively as compared to neat LDPE. Moghaddam et al 14 revealed that an increase in clay content resulted in a sudden reduction of approximately 50% in CO 2 gas permeability after incorporation of only 2 wt% of Cloisite®15A into LDPE/TiO 2 /PE-g-MA systems, while higher clay loading did not ensue significant changes in gas permeability.…”