Oxygen barrier and mechanical properties of masterbatch‐based PA6/nanoclay composite films

This study focuses on the possibility of improving performance properties of polyamide‐6 (PA6) nanocomposite films for packaging application using nanoclay masterbatch. Different concentrations of nanoclay in PA6 were prepared through melt‐mixing of particulate nanoclay and nanoclay masterbatches in a twin screw compounder, then film samples were molded using a hot press. Oxygen barrier properties were then measured and interpreted on the basis of different theoretical approaches. Also, a correlation between morphology and properties of the studied nanocomposites was observed, and all prepared nanocomposites exhibited performance improvement with increasing the nanoclay content. The masterbatch‐based nanocomposite films showed more exfoliated regions that leading to the enhancement of the mechanical properties. Gas permeability through nanocomposite films decreased significantly just by loading a small amount of nanoclay. However, surprising behavior in oxygen permeability observed at higher levels of nanoclay in masterbatch‐based nanocomposite was attributed to the decreased crystallinity of PA6 matrix.