The gas permeability coefficient of nano and micro composites of natural rubber, carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber and 70:30 natural rubber/carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber blend membranes has been investigated with special reference to type of filler, gases, filler loading and pressure. The layered silicates such as sodium bentonite and sodium fluorohectorite were the nanofillers used and the conventional micro fillers were clay and silica. Latex nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction technique. The dispersion of layered silicates in the polymer matrix was analysed using transmission electron microscopy. The fluorohectorite silicate showed excellent dispersion in natural rubber matrix. The effect of free volume on the gas barrier properties was investigated by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. It was observed that due to the platelet like morphology and high aspect ratio of layered silicates, the gas barrier properties of nano filled latex membranes were very high. The crosslink density values and extent of reinforcement were estimated in order to correlate with the gas barrier properties. The oxygen/nitrogen selectivity of these membranes were investigated. The diffusion of gas molecules through the polymer was determined by time-lag method and diffusion selectivity of the membranes was computed. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.