3D Model to Predict the Moisture Diffusion Patterns Through Bionanocomposite Films Vimala Bharathi SK, Maria Leena M, Moses JA, Anandharamakrishnan C* Computational Modeling and Nanoscale Processing Unit Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India Pudukkottai Road, Thanjavur- 613005, Tamil Nadu, India *E-mail: anandharamakrishnan@iifpt.edu.in Introduction Bionanocomposites are explored more due to the negative environmental impact of synthetic polymers as well as for overcoming the barrier downsides of biopolymers Percent loading, angle of orientation and degree of exfoliation of nanofillers influence the properties of bionanocomposites The prediction of barrier properties in 2D view can be misleading, as the thickness and the dispersion of the clay along the thickness of the matrix also plays a significant role Results Concentration (mol/m3) α = 1% (w/w) 5% (w/w) 10% (w/w) 20% (w/w) θ = 0° 45° 60° 90° Plain film Intercalated Exfoliated Randomly arranged Figure 2. Effect of various % loading, angle of inclination and arrangement of nanoplatelets on moisture diffusion (at 0.0222 s) (α – Percent loading; θ – Angle of inclination) Computational Methods A three dimensional finite element model was developed based on the Fickian diffusion model a c b XY View 3D View Figure 3. Effect of various percent loading, angle of inclination of nanoplatelets on moisture diffusion (at 0.0222 s) Figure 4. Effect of nanoplatelets arrangement on moisture diffusion (0.0222 s) Conclusions Barrier properties of bionanocomposites depends on percent loading as well as the angle of inclination of nanoreinforcements Barrier properties increases with increase in degree of exfoliation Acknowledgement The authors acknowledge Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India for financial support References Bharadwaj, R. K. (2001). Modeling the Barrier Properties of Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites. macromolecules, 34, 9189-9192. Figure 1. Geometry of Chitosan-MMT nanocomposites (a – Plain chitosan film; b – Orderly arranged Chitosan – MMT nanocomposite; c – Randomly arranged Chitosan-MMT nanocomposite)