Abstract for presentation at Chemeca 2005

Nanocomposites based on layered silicates represent a radical alternative to conventional polymer composites. Due to its large surface area and a high aspect ratio of layered silicates, it is possible to achieve a high degree of stiffness and strengthening with very low loadings, thus reducing the weight of the composite material. Thus, the use of polymeric Nanocomposite is expected to be widely used by the industrial community due to their outstanding mechanical, barrier and heat resistant properties. Layered silicates dispersed as a reinforcing phase in an engineering polymer matrix are one of the most important forms of nanocomposites. Although the high aspect ratio of silicate nanolayers is ideal for reinforcement, these layers are not easily dispersed in most polymers due to their preferred face-to-face stacking in agglomerated tactoids. These new materials are also environmentally friendly since natural clay is used in the development of these Nanocomposites. Use of less quantity of the polymer to achieve superior product quality means less use of primary resources. Various polymer clay nanocomposites (PCNs) were prepared from ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) with 9%, 18% and 28% vinyl acetate (VA) content filled with different wt% (2.5, 5, 7.5) of a Montmorillonite based organo-modified clay (Cloisite® C15A and C30B). Thesea series of ethylene vinyl acetates copolymers find application in packaging industry due to high clarity of the film. Also, by insertion of small amount of clay can increase gas and water permeability, chemical resistance and can still keep the optical clarity characteristics of the film.