Page 15 - PERIODIC Magazine Issue 7

Because the LDHs we are using are entirely synthetic
(unlike some clays that have been previously used in
barrier applications), we can tailor them to be entirely
non-toxic, free of any heavy metal traces. Consequently,
non-toxic LDHs have been FDA approved as a safe food
contact material.

Our experiments have shown the LDH-based barrier
coatings to result in extremely low OTR (oxygen
transmission rate) and WVTR (water vapour transmission
rate) values, and their suitability has been further
confirmed by theoretical calculations. We have quantified
this improvement of barrier properties by introducing a
barrier improvement factor (BIF), and determined that
compared to commercial metallised films, our non-toxic
LDH nanosheet-based coatings give a BIF that is 40 times
higher.
Our sponsors, SCG Chemicals Co. Ltd., are in the
process of up-scaling this technology to make trial
packaging for a wide range of food. So whether
it’s crisps, candy, or a microwave meal, you’ll soon
be choosing which snacks you want to accompany
your Netflix through our transparent, recyclable,
low-energy packaging.

Read the full paper: Nature Communications, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10362-2

15
Periodic
The Magazine of the Department of Chemistry