Enhancement of Oxygen and Moisture Permeability with Illite-Containing Polyethylene Film

Abstract

This work reports the preparation of ceramic hybrid films with illite-polyethylene composites analyzed as a function of concentration of added illite in polyethylene. The enhancement of oxygen and water-vapor transmission rate of illite-polyethylene film was evaluated to determine its influence on the freshness in fruit packaging. Particle size of illite materials was controlled in the range of 1~10 µm and then mixed with LDPE to form the masterbatch. Ceramic hybrid films were prepared through a blown film making process. To determine the dispersity and abundancy of illite materials in the polyethylene matrix, various characterizations of illite-PE hybrid masterbatch and films were performed using SEM, TGA, and FT-IR. The oxygen and water-vapor transmission rate of illite-polyethylene film was found to be two times higher than that of LDPE film.