Thermal property, morphology, optical transparency, and gas permeability of PVA/SPT nanocomposite films and equi-biaxial stretching films

Abstract

Poly(vinyl alcohoI)(PVA) nanocomposite films containing various saponite (SPT) clay contents were synthesized using a solution intercalation method. The thermal property, morphology, optical transparency, and gas permeability of the PVA nanocomposite films with various SPT contents in the range of 0 to 10 wt% were examined. PVA nanocomposite film containing 5 wt% SPT showed excellent thermal and gas barrier property. The hybrid films containing 5 wt% SPT were equibiaxially stretched with stretching ratios ranging from 150 to 250%. The clay dispersion, optical transparency, and gas permeability were also examined as a function of equibiaxial stretching ratio. The PVA nanocomposite films with various equibiaxial stretching ratios showed excellent optical transparency and barrier to oxygen permeability.