Physical and mechanical properties of gelatin–clay nanocomposite

•Gelatin–clay nanocomposites containing up to 18% clay were produced successfully.•Nano-clay increased tensile strength of gelatin films and decreased their elongation.•Nano-clay reduced water vapor permeability of gelatin films up to 50% of the control.•Transmittance of gelatin films decreased with inclusion of clay.

Nanoclay particles were included in a gelatin matrix and gelatin–clay nanocomposites with different clay levels were produced, successfully. Mechanical properties of gelatin–clay nanocomposite films were measured using a texture analyzer by tensile test. Water vapor permeability, solubility, opacity, and color parameters were also determined. In the absence of nanoclay water vapor permeability was 0.86 g mm/kPa m2 h and with addition of 18% nanoclay it decreased to 0.42 g mm/kPa m2 h. Tensile strength of films was directly proportional to clay content, while addition of clay caused a reduction in elongation and water vapor permeability of films. Nanoclay was able to improve some physical and mechanical properties of gelatin biofilms.