Can high oxygen and water vapor barrier nanocomposite coatings be obtained with a waterborne formulation?

Modification of synthetic, high aspect ratio clay with 6-aminocaprohydroxamic acid hydrochloride pushes the interaction between the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix and the filler to the level where the waterborne nanocomposite becomes rather insensitive to swelling, even at an elevated relative humidity (RH). The modifier can form strong hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups of PVA via the hydroxamic acid functional group. This prevents the swelling of crystalline PVA domains. Perfectly textured nanocomposite films are obtained by spraying polymer-filler suspensions. The combination of the various effects shifts the onset of significant swelling of the nanocomposites to high RH regions. Even at 90% RH, surprisingly low oxygen and water vapor transmission rates (0.11 cm3 m−2 day−1 bar−1 and 0.18 g m−2 day−1, respectively, for a coating of 0.42 µm) are observed that may render PVA-based, waterborne coatings interesting for food packaging applications.