NANOCOMPOSITES USED IN FOOD PACKAGING INDUSTRY

BY STUTI GARG CH9268 B.E. CHEMICAL IVth YEAR

Polymer NanoComposites (PNC)

Polymer nano composites are created by dispersing an inert, nanoscale filler throughout a polymeric matrix.
The use of fillers which have at least one dimension in the nanometric range (nanoparticles) produces polymer nanocomposites.

Filler materials - clay and silicate nanoplatelets, silica nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes , graphene , starch nanocrystals, cellulose-based nanofibers or nanowhiskers, chitin or chitosan nanoparticles and other inorganics.
Properties- oxygen barrier, high strength, flame resistant and better thermal properties (e.g., melting points, degradation and glass transition temperatures), alterations in surface wettability and hydrophobicity. Nanocomposites may even offer environmental advantages over conventional plastics: when a nanofiller is dispersed within the biocompatible polymer, bionanocomposite actually has a faster rate of biodegradation.

Permeability of PNCs

The dispersal of nano-sized fillers into the polymer matrix affects the barrier properties of a homogeneous polymer film. By creating a tortuous path for gas diffusion, Essentially, the tortuous path allows the manufacturer to attain larger effective film thicknesses while using smaller amounts of polymer. Clay particles can cut permeability as much as 75%.

Illustration of the tortuous pathway created by incorporation of exfoliated clay nanoplatelets into a polymer matrix film.

(a) In a film composed only of polymer, diffusing gas molecules on average migrate via a pathway that is perpendicular to the film orientation. (b) In a nanocomposite, diffusing molecules must navigate around impenetrable particles/platelets and through interfacial zones which have different permeability characteristics than those of the virgin polymer. The tortuous pathway increases the mean gas diffusion length and, thus, the shelf-life of spoilable foods.

Polymer-clay nanocomposites
Clays consist of multiple layers of complex metallic ores (with the major constituents being aluminium and magnesium silicates). There are a number of different types, however those of particular interest to the packaging industry are smectite, kaolonite, montmorillonite, and hectorite. Structurally they are aggregates of stacked, ultrafine layered particles (or tactoids). Each layer (or platelet) within the tactoid is of the order of 1 nm thick and a few hundreds of nm in the other two dimensions. Nanoclay polymer composites can be produced by a number of different methods: solution intercalation the organo-clay is first swollen with solvent (e.g. water or an organic solvent) before mixing with polymer. The polymer diffuses between the nanoclay layers, displacing the solvent;

in situ intercalative polymerisation the organoclay is swollen within a solution of monomer; so that polymerisation occurs between the clay layers;
melt intercalation (used for thermoplastic polymers) the organo-clay and polymer are mixed at a temperature above the softening point of the polymer.

Improved Packaging The incorporation of nanoclays into packaging also offers: Reduction in raw materials. Improved stiffness enables the use of less raw material and down-gauging by 20% can be achieved. Lighter packaging may lead to savings in the cost of transportation, storage and recycling. Less dependence on speciality products. Polymer-clay nanocomposites can be alternatives to expensive speciality materials. Elimination of secondary processes. High-cost operations such as laminations for barrier packaging or mechanical surface finishing can be eliminated. Less complex structures. Nanocomposites may have, for example, less complex structures than multi-laminates and this can lead to easier recycling. Reduction in machine cycle time. By changing the physical and thermal properties of polymers it is possible to reduce pack production times.

Comparison between Microcomposites an NanoComposites