Results and Discussion
Apparent film property
As indicated by Sothornvit and others (2009), the type of nanoclays
greatly influenced the degree of dispersion in the filmforming
solution.
Among the clays tested, the natural MMT (Cloisite Na+), which is hydrophilic, was dispersed best in the
film-forming solution followed by less hydrophobic Cloisite 30B
by a simple mixing with a magnetic stirrer; however, the hydrophobic
Cloisite 20A was hardly dispersed in the film-forming
solution without further treatment such as high shear mixing homogenization
and ultrasonication.
The resulting agar and agar/clay
nanocomposite films obtained by the solvent casting method
were flexible and freestanding