Barrier properties of PLA/PBAT/Nanoclay Bionanocomposite films for food packaging

To prevent environmental pollution, polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the suitable alternatives for synthetic polymers. However, to use this polymer especially in the packaging industry, its flexibility and toughness and barrier properties must be improved. In this study, this weakness of PLA has been modified using 20 wt.% ​​polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), which is a flexible biodegradable synthetic polymer. Also, two clay nanoparticles (Cloesite 30B and Cloesite 20A) ​​(0.5, 1, 3, and 5 phr) were used to improve the water vapor permeability (WVTR) of blends. The results showed that the barrier properties of samples are enhanced by adding clay nanoparticles, and its optimal value was achieved using 0.5 phr of Clocite 30B. Consequently, the WVTR of this sample has decreased by 67%. The results of the XRD test showed the formation of an intercalated structure in clay nanoparticles and indicated that by using smaller amounts of nanoclay, the d-spacing in clay nanoparticles were increased.