Enhanced water vapor barrier and gas barrier properties of transparent poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/poly(lactic acid)/hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets composite films

The water vapor barrier and gas barrier properties are very important factors for biodegradable packaging films. Herein, nano-sized hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (hBNNSs) were facilely exfoliated, and novel transparent poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films incorporated with hBNNS were developed. Compared to those properties of neat PBAT/PLA film, the water vapor barrier of PBAT/PLA/ hBNNSs films was greatly enhanced by 67%. Meanwhile, the oxygen permeability (OP) and carbon dioxide permeability (CO2P) of CS/hBNNSs films are significantly lowered by 65% and 93%, respectively. In addition, their thermal stabilities and mechanical property are also enhanced.