High Throughput Bar-Coating Processed Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Multi-Layers for Gas Barrier Thin-Films

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2019 Jul 1;19(7):4299-4304. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2019.16333.

Abstract

Herein, we demonstrate the preparation of a scalable bar-coated nanocomposite organic-inorganic hybrid film and developed robust barrier films for general purpose packaging. Using combinatory printing of polymers and nanocomposites by bar coating, a facile and effective barrier film fabrication method was developed. Based on a preliminary survey with several material combinations, a rationalized two-fold nanocomposite film was fabricated. The number of layers in the barrier film significantly modified oxygen barrier performance such that, for the 1 wt% ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) intercalated film, the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the 5-layer sample was reduced to 31.69% of the OTR of the 3-layer sample (112.8 vs. 35.75 cc/(m² · day)). In addition, fine tuning the amount of EVOH polymer enabled further improvement of oxygen barrier performance. Intercalation of 2 wt% EVOH resulted an OTR improvement from 35.75 in the 1 wt% sample to 11.90 cc/(m² ·day), which is a 4.25-fold enhancement. Overall barrier characteristics proved that our approach could be used for large-area deposited, oxygen resistant, general purpose packaging applications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't