A Study on Morphology and Characterization of Polyethylene Terephthalate-Synthetic Mica Nanocomposites: Food Packaging Applications

Polymer nanocomposites are recently used for packaging materials because of their superior mechanical strength, increased heat-resistance and improved barrier properties against oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour. In this study, PET nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of PET and synthetic micas (Somasof-MAE). The results of DSC analyses indicated that the influence of nanoparticles on crystallization of PET is considerableespecially at 1 wt. % loading level of nanomicas. The addition of mica nanoparticles to polymer matrix caused to reduce of parameters elongation at break, tensile strength and dissipatedenergy. The results of WAXD analysis and TEM micrographs showed that when the content of nanomica in polymer matrix is 1 wt%, the mica layers partially exfoliated in the polymer matrix while at higher loading levels, the dominant morphology is intercalation.

A Study on Morphology and Characterization of Polyethylene Terephthalate-Synthetic Mica Nanocomposites: Food Packaging Applications Keywords:

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) , Somasif-MAE , Crystallization , Nanocomposite , Morphology