Effect of nanoclay on morphological, thermal, and barrier properties of albumin bovine

The bionanocomposite of albumin bovine with nanoclay (albumin/clay) has been successfully prepared by solution technique using CuSO4/glycine chelate complex as the catalyst with various percentage of nanoclay loading. The uniform dispersion of nanoclay with the albumin bovine matrix was achieved by continuous sonication technique. The micro structural interactions of albumin bovine with nanoclay were evidenced by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The structure of the albumin bovine/clay composites was investigated by X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The thermal stability of the albumin/clay composites was more than that of the virgin albumin and remarkable increase in thermal property was obtained with increase in clay content. The oxygen barrier property of albumin/clay composites was measured and it was observed that the oxygen permeability was substantially reduced due to increase in nanoclay loading. The biodegradable property of albumin and its composites were measured. It was noticed that the pure albumin was degradable in 5 days whereas the albumin/clay bionanocomposites were stable up to 180 days. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. (C) 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers