Effect of clay contents on mechanical and water vapor barrier properties of agar-based nanocomposite films

► Intercalated agar/clay (Cloisite Na+) nanocomposite films were prepared with varying amount of nanoclay by using a solution intercalation method. ► Film properties such as tensile strength (TS), water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility (WS), swelling ratio (SR), water vapor uptake ratio (WVUR), and water contact angle (CA) were greatly influenced by the clay content. ► These results provide basic information for providing packaging films with the optimum properties for a specific application through fine tuning the film properties by choosing proper amount of clay concentration.