Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board
The vast amount of synthetic polymers used in packaging is putting a strain on the environment and is depleting finite, non-renewable raw materials. Abundantly available biopolymers such as alginate, chitosan and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) have frequently been suggested in the literature to re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/16/3336 |
| _version_ | 1797583434487431168 |
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| author | Anna Mayrhofer Samir Kopacic Wolfgang Bauer |
| author_facet | Anna Mayrhofer Samir Kopacic Wolfgang Bauer |
| author_sort | Anna Mayrhofer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The vast amount of synthetic polymers used in packaging is putting a strain on the environment and is depleting finite, non-renewable raw materials. Abundantly available biopolymers such as alginate, chitosan and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) have frequently been suggested in the literature to replace synthetic polymers and their barrier properties have been investigated in detail. Many studies aim to improve the properties of standalone biopolymer films. Some studies apply these biopolymers as barrier coatings on paper, but the solids content in most of these studies is quite low, which in turn would result in a high energy demand in industrial drying processes. The aim of this study is to suggest a laboratory procedure to investigate the suitability of these biopolymers at higher and such more industrially relevant solids content as potential coating materials for paper and board in order to improve their barrier properties. First, biopolymer solutions are prepared at a high solids content at which the viscosity at industrially relevant higher shear rates of 50,000 s<sup>−1</sup> (1000 s<sup>−1</sup> for MFC) is in the same range as a synthetic reference material (in this case ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH) at 10 wt%. These solutions are analyzed regarding properties such as rheology and surface tension that are relevant for their coatability in industrial coating processes. Then, free-standing films are cast, and the films are characterized regarding important properties for packaging applications such as different surface, mechanical and barrier properties. Based on these results suitable biopolymers for future coating trials can be easily identified. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:38:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afb7cea1e90948ef94875b6628185bda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:38:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-afb7cea1e90948ef94875b6628185bda2023-11-19T02:42:38ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-08-011516333610.3390/polym15163336Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and BoardAnna Mayrhofer0Samir Kopacic1Wolfgang Bauer2Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, AustriaInstitute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, AustriaThe vast amount of synthetic polymers used in packaging is putting a strain on the environment and is depleting finite, non-renewable raw materials. Abundantly available biopolymers such as alginate, chitosan and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) have frequently been suggested in the literature to replace synthetic polymers and their barrier properties have been investigated in detail. Many studies aim to improve the properties of standalone biopolymer films. Some studies apply these biopolymers as barrier coatings on paper, but the solids content in most of these studies is quite low, which in turn would result in a high energy demand in industrial drying processes. The aim of this study is to suggest a laboratory procedure to investigate the suitability of these biopolymers at higher and such more industrially relevant solids content as potential coating materials for paper and board in order to improve their barrier properties. First, biopolymer solutions are prepared at a high solids content at which the viscosity at industrially relevant higher shear rates of 50,000 s<sup>−1</sup> (1000 s<sup>−1</sup> for MFC) is in the same range as a synthetic reference material (in this case ethylene vinyl alcohol EVOH) at 10 wt%. These solutions are analyzed regarding properties such as rheology and surface tension that are relevant for their coatability in industrial coating processes. Then, free-standing films are cast, and the films are characterized regarding important properties for packaging applications such as different surface, mechanical and barrier properties. Based on these results suitable biopolymers for future coating trials can be easily identified.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/16/3336biopolymerchitosanalginatemicrofibrillated cellulosesolution cast filmbarrier |
| spellingShingle | Anna Mayrhofer Samir Kopacic Wolfgang Bauer Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board Polymers biopolymer chitosan alginate microfibrillated cellulose solution cast film barrier |
| title | Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board |
| title_full | Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board |
| title_fullStr | Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board |
| title_short | Extensive Characterization of Alginate, Chitosan and Microfibrillated Cellulose Cast Films to Assess their Suitability as Barrier Coating for Paper and Board |
| title_sort | extensive characterization of alginate chitosan and microfibrillated cellulose cast films to assess their suitability as barrier coating for paper and board |
| topic | biopolymer chitosan alginate microfibrillated cellulose solution cast film barrier |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/16/3336 |
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