Abstract
Starch/clay bionanocomposites were prepared by incorporation of varying concentrations of nanoclay (Cloisite® 30B) through solution blending. The chemical interaction of starch with clay was evidenced from ultraviolet-visible (UV-visible) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The material was also characterized through X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy study. The bionanocomposites were found to be more thermally stable as revealed from thermogravimetric analysis. The fire retardancy of the bionanocomposites was investigated from limiting oxygen index measurement. The result showed improvement of this property with increase in clay loading. From the measurement of oxygen permeabilities, it was found that the oxygen barrier property of starch/clay (10%) was improved by more than three times compared to virgin starch. The biodegradability of the material combined with the above mentioned properties could make it applicable as food packaging material. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1238–1243, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers
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