Nanocomposite is the most exciting new technology for enhancing polymer performance in a wide range of applications. Nano technology is being used around the world to develop some of the most exciting new polymer compounds. Nanoparticles can be used to imporve barrier properties, boost strength and stiffness, reduce weight and increase dimensional stability and flame retardancy. Nanocomposite offers great potential in a variety of key end-use areas including the automotive industry. food and beverage packaging and the aerospace sector. Much of the leading edge research into nanocomposites is being carried out in the U.S. RTP company has introduced a new product for film and sheet extrusion that incorporates argano-clay hybrids into nylon via the compounding process. The nanocomposite is light weight with a minimal loading requirement of two to eight percent loading and exhibits properties typical of mineral-filled compounds with 20 to 30 per cent loadings. Film and sheet derive a siginificant benefit from this material through it's four-fold improvement in oxygen transmission rate (OTR) over unfilled nylon 6. It is most suitable for packaging applications in the cosmestics, food, medical and electronics industries because of it's barrier properties against moisture, gases and fragrances. The material also offers good transparency in sheet form which is convenient for viewing contents in thermoformed packaging.
The compound exhibits siginificant improvement in heat deflection temperature by over 35 degrees centigrade, tensile strength by over a third and flexural modulus by almost 50 per cent. It can act as a good substitute for glass fiber reinforcement when it cannot be used due to specific gravity, mould shrinkage, or wear. The compound has a stiffness equivalent to a conventional 20 per cent mineral filled nylon, at a five-percent weight loading, with minimal increase in specific gravity. Besides, the new compound offers easy processability equal to that of neat nylon. No degradation takes place in viscosity over a period of time which is lower at the shear rates due to the orientation of the organoclay platelets.