Barrier, Biodegradation, and Mechanical Properties of (Rice Husk)/(Montmorillonite) Hybrid Filler-Filled Low-Density Polyethylene Nanocomposite Films Khaliq Majeed, 1,2 Azman Hassan, 1 Aznizam Abu Bakar 1 1 Enhanced Polymer Research Group (EnPRO), Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia 2 Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Lahore, Pakistan Rice husk (RH)/montmorillonite (MMT) hybrid filler- filled low-density polyethylene nanocomposite films were prepared by extrusion blown film. RH was used as a biodegradable filler in various concentrations (2, 5, and 7 parts per hundred composite), while the amount of MMT was held constant at 2 wt%. Delami- nation of MMT platelets and distribution of RH were investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Diffractograms revealed the formation of intercalated structures, regardless of the RH content. Barrier properties revealed that MMT platelets have the potential to retard the diffusion of permeating mol- ecules while, on the other hand, barrier efficiency of MMT is balanced by the subsequent incorporation of RH in RH/MMT hybrid filler-filled composite films. Despite an increase in permeability, the selectivity ratio (CO 2 /O 2 permeability) increased with increasing RH contents in the hybrid filler-filled composite films showing the potential of these films in the develop- ment of modified atmosphere for fresh fruits and vege- tables. The colonization of fungus and formation of holes as observed in micrographs of the test samples subjected to soil burial revealed that the biodegrada- tion rate increased with the incorporation of RH in the hybrid composites. The composite films with higher contents of RH in hybrid filler are also more biodegrad- able than those having lower contents. Addition of RH contents in the hybrid filler increased the tensile mod- ulus, while decreasing the tensile and tear strength. Addition of RH in the hybrid filler increased the melting and crystallization temperatures of the resulting nano- composite films as well. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 00:000–000, 2015. V C 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers INTRODUCTION Packaging perishable plant products is one of the more important steps in the long and complicated journey from grower to consumer, and packaging plays a vital role in extending the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. Gas exchange and permeability rates through the package material are the processes involved in creating an atmos- phere inside a package that helps in prolonging the shelf life and freshness and improving the safety and quality of the food product. Plastics and their composites are perme- able to gases at different degrees, and this permeability depends on the internal architecture of the polymer, such as its crystallinity, crystalline to amorphous ratio, thermal and mechanical treatment, degree of crosslinking, glass transition temperature, molecular mass, and so on [1]. The knowledge of permeation behavior of these gases is important for the selection of correct packaging materials for prolonging shelf life. The concept of permeability is normally associated with the quantitative evaluation of the barrier properties of a plastic; therefore, in general, a plastic that is a good barrier has a low permeability. Worldwide consumption of plastics is expected to reach 227 million tons by 2015, and most plastics, after serving their useful life, find their way to the landfill sites [2]. Polyolefin (polyethylene [PE] and polypropylene) predominates in plastics owing to a number of reasons (viz, high tensile strength and elongation at break; excel- lent water barrier and good oxygen barrier properties; light weight; lower cost and energy effectiveness). They have contributed greatly to the development of high- performance materials, and their production and usage have been enormously increased [3]. Film is the largest market segment for polyolefin, and low-density polyethyl- ene (LDPE), a prime member of the polyolefin family, has prominence over other polyolefins in flexible films. LDPE films are extensively used for foodstuff and goods packaging, agriculture, and merchandising [4]. LDPE film is widely used due to its easier processibility and good performance properties; however, usage is a subject of discussion regarding their environmental impact. Nanotechnology has attracted a great deal of interest and has found multifarious applications in all technical Correspondence to: Azman Hassan; e-mail: azmanh@cheme.utm.my Contract grant sponsor: e-science; contract grant number: 79416. This work is supported by an e-science grant (vote 79416). DOI 10.1002/vnl.21499 Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). V C 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers JOURNAL OF VINYL & ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY—2015