Barrier Properties and Structural Study of Nanocomposite of HDPE/Montmorillonite Modified with Polyvinylalcohol

In this work was studied the permeation of CO 2 in films of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and organoclay modified with polyvinylalcohol (MMT HDTMA/PVA ) obtained from melt blending. Permeation study showed that the incorporation of the modified organoclay generates a significant effect on the barrier properties of HDPE. When a load of 2 wt% of MMT HDTMA/PVA was incorporated in the polymer matrix, the flow of CO 2 decreased 43.7% compared to pure polyethylene. The results of TEM showed that clay layers were dispersed in the polymeric matrix, obtaining an exfoliated-structure nanocomposite. The thermal stability of nanocomposite was significantly enhanced with respect to the pristine HDPE. DSC results showed that the crystallinity was maintained as the pure polymeric matrix. Consequently, the decrease of permeability was attributable only to the effect of tortuosity generated by the dispersion of MMT HDTMA/PVA . Notably the mechanical properties remain equal to those of pure polyethylene, but with an increase in barrier properties to CO 2 . This procedure allows obtaining nanocomposites of HDPE with a good barrier property to CO 2 which would make it competitive in the use of packaging