Industrially produced PET nanocomposites with enhaced properties for food packaging applications

Gas permeation of polymers is one of the important factors to be considered in the selection of materials for many packaging applications, such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for foods. Poly (ethylene therephthalate) (PET) is known to exhibit very low gas permeation compared with most polymers such as polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene. However, MAP applications require better barrier performance than that of PET. In the present work PET trays reinforced with organically modified sepiolite, fibrillar nanoclay, have been produced at industrial processes. Permeability to water vapour, oxygen and carbon dioxide has been studied in PET nanocomposites as well as their microstructure through transmission electron and scanning electronic microscopy (TEM and SEM), and their mechanical properties. Results show a better performance in barrier properties as well as an increase in tensile strength, and impact resistance when the sepiolite content is lower than 2.5%.