Incorporation Of Montmorillonite Research Articles

Smart self-assembled polymeric-MMT/Moringa Oleifera L. particles by solvent replacement method

Obesity, stemming from metabolic syndrome and energy imbalance, is a common health concern characterized by excess energy consumption and fat buildup. Moringa Oleifera L. (MO), known for its anti-obesity properties, is extracted via Soxhlet extraction. MO is extracted using the Soxhlet extraction method. To evaluate the antioxidant properties of MO powder, several analyses were conducted, including the assessment of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) activity, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity. The TPC and TFC, DPPH activity, and ABTS activity values were determined to be 386.7 mg GAE/g and 82.33 mg QE/g, 32.86 %, and 49.4 % respectively. To improve drug delivery, the freeze-dried MO powder was encapsulated within a polymeric carrier, poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). Moreover, the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) into the MO-loaded PCL nanoparticles enhanced the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of MO. Nanoprecipitation was employed as a method to produce the nanoparticles, and the effects of four key parameters were studied: the ratio of aqueous phase volume to organic volume (1.5 – 10), stirring speed (400 rpm – 1200 rpm), mass weightage of MO (1 % -5 %), and mass weightage of MMT (2 % - 5 %). Design Expert was utilized for full factorial analysis to assess the impact of these parameters on encapsulation efficiency and drug loading. The optimal formulation was achieved at the ratio of aqueous phase volume to the organic volume of 1.5, stirring speed of 400 rpm, mass weightage of MO at 1 %, and mass weightage of MMT at 5% The expected encapsulation efficiency is 91.33 % and drug loading is 6.49 %.

Montmorillonite-reinforced xanthan gum-based biomaterial enhances biomineralization suitable for bone tissue engineering

In the present study, we effectively constructed a biomaterial that consists of Xanthan gum, DEGDMA and montmorillonite infused as nanofillers for their prospective application in the restoration of bone. Utilizing FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and numerous other techniques, each of the physicochemical features related to the synthesized biomaterial was characterized. The incorporation of montmorillonite was found to induce noticeable rheological characteristics. The fabricated biomaterial shows a more controlled release of drugs. The biocompatibility and the cytocompatibility of the synthesized biomaterial were demonstrated by the cellular attachment and growth of different secondary cell lines which remain active but do not produce enhanced ROS. An elevated ALP-activity, improved differentiation and increased mineralization by SaOS-2 cells on the developed biomaterial under an osteoinductive environment impart its capability for osteogenesis. This material can be used for delivering drugs and can serve as an affordable substrate for cellular activity. We claim that this material possesses the features suitable for bone tissue regeneration and restoration. We propose that the developed biomaterial has future implications in the biomedical sector at low cost.

Fabrication of oxygen-rich vacant 3D Zn–CuBi2O4/MMT photocatalysts and the enhancement of its photocatalytic performance

Semiconductor catalytic materials have excellent photocatalytic degradation performance for organic pollutants, and photocatalytic degradation is considered to be the most promising technology for environmental pollution treatment. Bismuth-based bimetallic oxide CuBi2O4 is widely recognized as one of the most valuable and promising semiconductor photocatalytic materials because of its narrow bandwidth, strong visible light absorption and excellent chemical stability. To further improve the photocatalytic activity of CuBi2O4, the Zn-doped CuBi2O4/montmorillonite composites were prepared by employing a synergistic control strategy of doping and oxygen vacancies (OVs), which efficiently regulated the electronic structure and the number of active sites to achieve a rapid separation of photogenerated charges. The doping of zn2+ significantly increased the quantity of oxygen vacancies in the prepared materials. The BET revealed that the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) greatly increased the specific surface area of CuBi2O4. The experimental findings indicated that 5 % Zn–CuBi2O4/MMT0.6 possessed abundant oxygen vacancies and longer fluorescence lifetime, resulting in better photocatalytic performance. The removal rate of butyl xanthate was 99.31 % in 40 min, and the removal rate of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) was 93.17 % in 180 min. The 5 % Zn–CuBi2O4/MMT0.6 could effectively inhibit e−/h+ complexation and provide richer catalytic active sites by doping to construct a flower-like oxygen-rich vacancy defect structure, which significantly improves its catalytic performance. The results of the cycling experiments showed that the stability and reproducibility of the 5 % Zn–CuBi2O4/MMT0.6 composites were excellent, the present study provides an innovative idea for the development of efficient and stable visible light photocatalytic applications.

New insights into physicochemical aspects involved in the formation of chitosan@alginate biobased polyelectrolyte complexes on natural montmorillonite clay surface

The use of alginate@chitosan-based polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) in encapsulation process is common due to the electrostatic interactions between the two oppositely charged biopolymers. However, the incorporation of montmorillonite (Mt) particles in the complex formation for improving the encapsulation efficiency as well as the physicochemical properties of PEC remains a challenge due to the competitive polymer–polymer and polymer-nanoparticle interactions. This study aimed to investigate the binding mechanism of alginate and chitosan through layer-by-layer approach in the presence of montmorillonite nanoparticles as a function of pH and the addition order of the components. Various techniques were employed to examine the formation of the alginate@chitosan PEC on the surface of Mt, such as zeta potential, conductivity and turbidity measurements. The characterization of the different PEC systems was performed using Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The results indicate that the formation of the complex is pH-dependent. The highest intercalation of the complex was observed when chitosan was added first at a lower pH, while the intercalation was reduced at neutral pH. Additionally, the thermal stability of PEC was enhanced in the presence of montmorillonite, and was dependent on both pH and the order of addition of the biopolymers. This study provides a new understanding of the complex formation mechanism between alginate and chitosan in the presence of montmorillonite nanoparticles, showing that the combination of biopolymer-based PEC with clay particles can potentially provide a low-cost, more stable and effective nanocomposite for encapsulation and delivery of active agents.

Feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogel promotes bone regeneration by stimulating the osteogenic differentiation of endogenous stem cells

Bone defects caused by bone trauma, infection, surgery, or other systemic diseases remain a severe challenge for the medical field. To address this clinical problem, different hydrogels were exploited to promote bone tissue regrowth and regeneration. Keratins are natural fibrous proteins found in wool, hair, horns, nails, and feather. Due to their unique characteristics of outstanding biocompatibility, great biodegradability, and hydrophilic, keratins have been widely applicated in different fields. In our study, the feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels that consist of keratin hydrogels serving as the scaffold support to accommodate endogenous stem cells and montmorillonite is synthesized. The introduction of montmorillonite greatly improves the osteogenic effect of the keratin hydrogels via bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2)/phosphorylated small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1/5/8 (p-SMAD 1/5/8)/runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) expression. Moreover, the incorporation of montmorillonite into hydrogels can improve the mechanical properties and bioactivity of the hydrogels. The morphology of feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels was shown by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to have an interconnected porous structure. The incorporation of montmorillonite into the keratin hydrogels was confirmed by the energy dispersive spectrum (EDS). We prove that the feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels enhance the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Furthermore, micro-CT and histological analysis of rat cranial bone defect demonstrated that feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels dramatically stimulated bone regeneration in vivo. Collectively, feather keratin-montmorillonite nanocomposite hydrogels can regulate BMP/SMAD signaling pathway to stimulate osteogenic differentiation of endogenous stem cells and promote bone defect healing, indicating their promising candidate in bone tissue engineering.

Percolation Network Formation in Nylon 6/Montmorillonite Nanocomposites: A Critical Structural Insight and the Impact on Solidification Process and Mechanical Behavior.

The incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) into Nylon 6 can endow advantages like improved mechanical strength and thermal stability, making Nylon 6/MMT a possible ideal alternative for Nylon 66. However, the relationship between the microstructure and physical properties of nylon 6/MMT nanocomposites is unclear so far due to the complicated system, including the highly asymmetric geometry of the exfoliated MMT layer and the complicated interaction between MMT layers and entangled nylon 6 chains. Herein, we focus on two processes, namely the impact of MMT on the solidification procedure during molding and the toughness–brittleness transition during the tensile stretch, in order to elucidate the structure–property relationship of nylon 6/MMT composites. We firstly studied the solidification process of nylon 6/MMT with bending height experiments. The results showed that the solidification process occurs prior to the crystallization of nylon 6, indicating that a physical crosslinked network rather than a crystalline structure is the reason for the solidification process. Furthermore, the solidification speed has a step change at around 2 wt% MMT content, indicating that the MMT percolation network is related to the transition. We further studied the influence of MMT inclusion on the mechanical properties, and found the tensile strain at break showed a similar step change at around 2 wt% MMT content, which further confirms the existence of an MMT percolation network above 2 wt% MMT content. It was generally believed that the main effect of MMT on nylon 6 is the nanofiller enforcement; we found that the percolation effect of the highly asymmetric 2-D nanofiller plays a central role in influencing the mechanical properties and solidification behavior during molding.

Proton Conductivity Amelioration of Sulfonated Poly Ether Sulfone Octyl Sulfonamide via the Incorporation of Montmorillonite

Proton Conductivity Amelioration of Sulfonated Poly Ether Sulfone Octyl Sulfonamide via the Incorporation of Montmorillonite

Poly(ethylene glycol) Diacrylate Iongel Membranes Reinforced with Nanoclays for CO2 Separation.

Despite the fact that iongels are very attractive materials for gas separation membranes, they often show mechanical stability issues mainly due to the high ionic liquid (IL) content (≥60 wt%) needed to achieve high gas separation performances. This work investigates a strategy to improve the mechanical properties of iongel membranes, which consists in the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay, from 0.2 to 7.5 wt%, into a cross-linked poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) network containing 60 wt% of the IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([C2mim][TFSI]). The iongels were prepared by a simple one-pot method using ultraviolet (UV) initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and characterized by several techniques to assess their physico-chemical properties. The thermal stability of the iongels was influenced by the addition of higher MMT contents (>5 wt%). It was possible to improve both puncture strength and elongation at break with MMT contents up to 1 wt%. Furthermore, the highest ideal gas selectivities were achieved for iongels containing 0.5 wt% MMT, while the highest CO2 permeability was observed at 7.5 wt% MMT content, due to an increase in diffusivity. Remarkably, this strategy allowed for the preparation and gas permeation of self-standing iongel containing 80 wt% IL, which had not been possible up until now.

Formulation - Properties effects of novel dual composite hydrogels for use as medical sealants

Use of sealants for wound closure and healing applications is being widely investigated due to their many advantages. However, currently available surgical sealants do not combine high strength with biocompatibility and other desired properties. We recently developed and studied hydrogels based on the natural polymers gelatin and alginate. In the current study, two functional fillers, the hemostatic agent montmorillonite and cellulose fibers, were incorporated into a basic formulation to create novel “dual composite” medical hydrogel sealants.The effects of both functional fillers on the mechanical and physical properties of the hydrogels as well as their microstructure and cytotoxicity were studied. Moreover, a qualitative model on the mechanical and physical properties of the hydrogels was developed. Incorporation of montmorillonite and cellulose fibers resulted in a significant increase in the tensile strength and modulus, better sealing ability, higher viscosity and lower gelation time and swelling degree. These changes were mainly due to dispersion of montmorillonite into nanoparticles within the hydrogel and physical crosslinking of the gelatin molecules. The cellulose fibers contributed by their reinforcing effect and ability to absorb water, and probably also by entanglements of the polymeric structure. Understanding the effects of each functional filler on the mechanical and physical properties in both liquid and solid states enables fitting desired formulations to specific medical applications. Together with the excellent biocompatibility of these dual composite hydrogels, they are expected to successfully be used as bioadhesives and medical sealants in various applications.

The Effect of pH Cycling on Surface Microhardness and Fluoride Release of Two Modified Nanoclay Glass Ionomer Restorations In Class V Cavities

Purpose: To assess the effect of pH cycling on surface microhardness and fluoride release of two modified nanoclay glass ionomer restorations (in vitro). Materials and Methods: A total of 180 permanent human caries free premolars were used. Class V were prepared on facial surfaces of the teeth. They were classified according to type of glass ionomer used for restoration of the cavities into three groups (60 teeth each); conventional glass ionomer medifill (A1), Dellite 43 modified glass ionomer (A2), and Dellite LVF modified glass ionomer (A3). Each group was moreover subdivided into three subgroups (20 teeth each) relative to the immersion solution used. The First subgroup remained in distilled Water (B1 control), the second subgroup was stored in artificial Saliva (B2) whereas the third subgroup was subjected to PH cycling (B3). Microhardness and fluoride release were measured after 7 and 30 days respectively. Results: There was a significant difference in the mean microhardness and fluoride release between the different materials after pH cycling (p≤0.001). PH cycling reduced the mean microhardness of the materials but induced the highest fluoride release. Conclusion: The proposed pH cycling model affected the microhardness of the tested materials while improved their fluoride release. Although the incorporation of montmorillonite into glass ionomer liquid improved the microhardness of the materials but it had yet, no effect on its fluoride release.

Effects of nanoclay on physical and dimensional stability of Bamboo/Kenaf/nanoclay reinforced epoxy hybrid nanocomposites

The objective of current work is to evaluate the density, void content, water absorption, thickness swelling and thermal expansion of non-woven bamboo mat (B)/ woven kenaf mat (K)/nanoclay/epoxy hybrid nanocomposites. The natural fibers based hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT), halloysite nanotube (HNT) and organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) at 1 wt.% loading, through hand lay-up technique. Water absorption was investigated by soaking the samples with distilled water at room temperature until saturation point and the thickness swelling was also measured as per standard. Thermomechanical analyser (TMA) was used to study the dimensional stability caused by temperature variation. Addition of nanoclay increase the density, reduced the void content and suppress water uptake in all hybrid nanocomposites. B/K/OMMT hybrid nanocomposites exhibit better dimensional stability with regards to water absorptions and thermal expansion as compare to B/K/MMT and B/K/HNT. The improvement can be attributed by the uniformly dispersed and strong interfacial adhesion bonding between the OMMT and epoxy matrix. The develop nanocomposites in this work can be utilized for building and automotive application which required high dimensional stability property.

Modifying the Properties of Polyethylene Electrets through the Incorporation of Montmorillonite

Polyethylene (PE) composites containing montmorillonite are studied. The incorporation of nanoparticulate montmorillonite into the polymer is shown to affect its electret, electric, and rheological properties. We find that the observed enhancement in the electret properties of PE samples containing 2 or 4 vol % of the filler is related to changes in the chemical structure (namely, oxygen-containing functional groups are formed in PE macromolecules as a result of mechanochemical destruction) and the electric and dielectric properties of PE itself, but the emergence of new type of traps for injected charge carriers at the polymer−filler interface has a greater contribution to the observed effect.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF COATINGS ON BASIS OF POLYVINYL ACETATE MODIFIED WITH MONTMORILLONITE

Water-dispersion materials based on poly (vinyl acetate) are widely used in industry as adhesive compositions and binders for polymer coatings due to their low cost, ecological safety and good performance characteristis. Drawbacks of such materials are insufficient water resistance and relatively low physical-mechanical properties. For improvement of performance characteristics of poly (vinyl acetate) based coatings it is proposed to modify the water-dispersion materials by incorporation of small amounts of sodium montmorillonite. In the article characteristics of model pigmented paint materials and coatings based on poly (vinyl acetate) dispersion modified with sodium montmorillonite are presented. Commercial water dispersion of PVA plasticized with dibutyl phatalate, natural sodium montmorillonite and titanium dioxide (pigment) were used for preparation of model paint materials. The obtained specimens of model paint materials are pseudoplastic fluids, incorporation of monmtorillonite leads to significant increase in yield stress. Materials modified with montmorillonite exhibit thixotropic properties. Addition of 1-2 % wt. montmorillonite to the material leads to increase in the Young modulus of dried films up to 8 times without decrease in tensile strength. The obtained effect is attributed to adhesion strengthening of the composite material. Incorporation of montmorillonite does not hinder the covering power of the paint material. Montmorillonite-modified coatings show increased hardness and reduced water absorption capacity (up to 2.5 times with addition of 2 % wt. montmorillonite). Reduction of water uptake of polymer material modified with montmorillonite can be attributed to reduction of free volume in the composite, formation of interface layers of polymer with different physico-phemical properties, and also to the decrease in the diffusion coefficient of water in the composite. The suggested approach to inprovement of the coating characteristics can be implemented without major expenditure due to low cost of natural sodium montmorillonite and simplicity of its incorporation in water-dispersion materials.

Metal Matrix Composite Coatings of Cupronickel Embedded with Nanoplatelets for Improved Corrosion Resistant Properties

The deterioration of metals under the influence of corrosion is a costly problem faced by many industries. Therefore, particle-reinforced composite coatings are being developed in different technological fields with high demands for corrosion resistance. This work studies the effects of nanoplatelet reinforcement on the durability, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties of copper-nickel coatings. A 90 : 10 Cu-Ni alloy was coelectrodeposited with nanoplatelets of montmorillonite (Mt) embedded into the metallic matrix from electrolytic baths containing 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15% Mt. X-ray diffraction of the coatings indicated no disruption of the crystal structure with addition of the nanoplatelets into the alloy. The mechanical properties of the coatings improved with a 17% increase in hardness and an 85% increase in shear adhesion strength with nanoplatelet incorporation. The measured polarization resistance increased from 11.77 kΩ·cm2for pure Cu-Ni to 33.28 kΩ·cm2for the Cu-Ni-0.15% Mt coating after soaking in a simulated seawater environment for 30 days. The incorporation of montmorillonite also stabilized the corrosion potential during the immersion study and increased resistance to corrosion.

Ultrasonic-assisted fabrication of montmorillonite-lignin hybrid hydrogel: Highly efficient swelling behaviors and super-sorbent for dye removal from wastewater

A novel hybrid hydrogel was synthesized from grafting of acrylamide and N-isopropyl acrylamide onto lignin by incorporation of montmorillonite under ultrasonic irradiation (lignin-g-p(AM-co-NIPAM)/MMT). The hydrogel was characterized by electron microscopy-energy dispersion spectrometer (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical strength analysis. The results showed that the hybrid hydrogel displayed thinner pore walls, better thermal stability and mechanical strength after hybriding with montmorillonite. The hydrogel was employed for the removal of methylene blue from the aqueous solution, and it exhibited good swelling–deswelling property. The initial swelling kinetic was Fickian type diffusion and the whole swelling process was good fit for Schott's pseudo-second order model. The adsorption process was found to be highly pH and temperature dependent and followed the pseudo-second-order rate model. The equilibrium adsorption data were found to fit well to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with an optimum adsorption value of 9646.92mgg−1. The hydrogel presented excellent regeneration capacity and was successfully used for five cycles of adsorption–desorption. In summary, the hydrogel has shown its potential as an environment friendly and efficient adsorbent for the adsorption of dyes from wastewater.

Effect of ozone exposure on thermal and structural properties of polylactide based composites

One of the factors that influence the properties of polymers and polymer-based composites in ambient conditions is ozone. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of ozone on polylactide and its composites consisting of polylactide (L) as polymer matrix and Montmorillonite K10 (S). The variation of the materials structural and thermal properties after exposure to ozone, ranging from 1 to 4 months, have been studied using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results indicate that the addition of the filler accelerates ozone-induced degradation. The incorporation of montmorillonite however does not change the mechanism of the degradation process. The AFM images of the microstructure of polylactide and polylactide-based composites after ozone treatment indicate that the introduction of an unmodified nanofiller into the system decreases the changes in the surface morphology. Present study reveals that ozone significantly influence the structure and properties of polylactide-based composites.

Effect of Composition of Mixed Reactive Diluent on Thermal Stability of UV Cured Urethane Acrylate/MMT Nanocomposite

The incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT) into urethane acrylate resin were prepared by mixing two reactive diluent based on different composition, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) and 2-phenoxy ethyl acrylate (PEA) with rigid phenyl group in order to improve the thermal stability. The effect of MMT concentration and reactive diluent composition on mechanical properties and thermal stability of nanocomposite were investigated. The tensile strength and storage modulus were increased in nanocomposite with low PEA concentration, which may be attributed to the lower glass transition temperature of PEA molecule. The thermal stability of nanocomposite was improved with increasing PEA content due to the thermally stable aromatic structure introduced to the polymer matrix.

Carboxymethyl starch-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles: a potential drug delivery system for isoniazid

The magnetic nanoparticles with suitable biocompatible coating have evoked much attention in drug delivery fields in recent years. In this article, a drug delivery system of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles coated with carboxymethyl starch (CMS) was developed by co-precipitation method for controlled release of isoniazid, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyser (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The effects of surfactant on the nanoparticles were assessed with respect to swelling, drug loading efficiency and consequently release of isoniazid. The results showed that the amount of Tween 80 affected these properties of the nanoparticles including stability, size and shape of the nanoparticles. The CMS-coated iron oxide nanoparticles thus formed were almost spherical and had an average size in the range of 8–20 nm. The in vitro drug release was studied in gastric pH (pH 1.2) and intestinal pH (pH 7.4) for different time periods using UV–visible spectroscopy. With the incorporation of montmorillonite and Tween 80, these nanoparticles had shown good cell viability as revealed by MTT assay. Mucoadhesivity of the nanoparticles were studied by in vitro wash-off and ex vivo technique using goat mucosa. The results indicated that these pH-sensitive magnetic nanoparticles could be used for drug delivery applications.

Crosslinked thiolated starch coated Fe3O4magnetic nanoparticles: Effect of montmorillonite and crosslinking density on drug delivery properties

The anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid was incorporated within crosslinked thiolated starch coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, aiming to reach a controlled drug delivery system. The coated magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD study, and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The morphology and dimensional characteristics of the nanoparticles were analyzed by SEM, TEM, and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) method. The drug release mechanism was studied at pH 1.2 and pH 7.4 for different time periods by UV–visible spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity study was performed by MTT assay analysis. Mucoadhesivity study was done by in vitro wash-off and ex vivo mucoadhesive test. The incorporation of montmorillonite and crosslinking of the nanoparticles were found to improve the cell viability, mucoadhesivity, and drug release properties. The properties of the prepared nanoparticles suggested their prospects for biomedical applications.

Preparation and characterization of montmorillonite/brea gum nanocomposites films

The aim of this study was the formulation and characterization of films, based on gum exudates from Brea tree and nanoclay particles, for food applications. Brea gum (BG) is a renewable resource available in semi-desert areas. Functional properties of brea gum based films were improved through the incorporation of montmorillonite (MMT). Studies on film forming solution of BG/MMT were conducted. Results indicated a reduction of foam forming with MMT incorporation due to the increase in surface energy. Nanoclay was incorporated to the polymer matrix and films were formed by casting. Effect of nanoclay concentration on physicochemical properties of films was studied. FTIR spectra showed a strong interaction between MMT and BG molecules and X-Ray diffractograms indicated an exfoliated MMT dispersion into film matrix. Optical properties of films were dependent on nanoclay concentration. Solubility and water and gas permeabilities decreased with increasing MMT content. Moisture sorption isotherms of BG and BG/MMT films were obtained. Results indicated that nanoclay incorporation produces a decrease in water uptake of BG. Nanoclay addition produced an increase in Young's module and tensile strength and a decrease in film elongation. Results showed that incorporation of 5% of MMT improved water resistance and water and gas barrier properties of BG based films and enhanced mechanical resistance of these films. Gas permeability measurements indicated that MMT addition reduced permselectivity (CO2/O2) of BG film.