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Mineral-filled biopolyester coatings for paperboard packaging materials: barrier, sealability, convertability and biodegradability properties

  • Karoliina Helanto ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Riku Talja and Orlando J. Rojas
Published/Copyright: January 28, 2022
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Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal
From the journal Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal Volume 37 Issue 1

Abstract

Changing trends in packaging materials has been driven by increasing environmental awareness as well as legislation. In this context, paperboard-based packaging have become increasingly popular due to its bio-based origin, potential biodegradability and physical properties. However, conventional systems lack behind in barrier performance and heat sealability. Hence, the addition of functional layers have been considered as alternative solutions to this challenge. Here we propose a biodegradable PLA-based polymer coating filled with minerals (0–10 wt% loading), namely, talc, kaolin and calcium carbonate, all of which were used in surface application on uncoated folding box board. For this purpose, we used a pilot-scale extrusion unit that produced materials that were tested for key properties. We found that the presence of filler in the PLA layer improved both water vapor (up to 16 %) and oxygen (up to 56 %) barrier properties. Moreover, the main effect of the fillers was observed in heat sealability, which was improved via adhesion at low temperatures, resulting in full fiber tear. Cup forming was less effected by filler loading in the PLA coating while repulping tests indicated the presence of large flakes of the polymer coating in 1 %-consistency slurries. Finally, biodegradability was slightly delayed in filler-containing samples (biodegradation within 10–60 days), most likely due to the nucleating effect of the fillers. Nevertheless, all the samples can be classified as biodegradable. Overall, our results represent a step forward in scale-up adoption of PLA-based coatings most useful in the development of packaging materials.

Keywords: biopolymer; coating; converting; filler; packaging

Funding statement: The authors state no funding involved.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Arctic Biomaterials Oy for the compounding of the masterbatches. Metsä Board research laboratory technicians are also acknowledged for assistance in laboratory analyses along the research group of Paper Converting and Packaging Technology at Tampere University, for the extrusion coating trial, OTR analysis and hot air sealing tests. Finally, Kruunukartonki – Länsipahvi Oy is thanked for assistance with the cup forming trials, and Itene for the biodegradability tests.

  1. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Received: 2021-11-24
Accepted: 2022-01-16
Published Online: 2022-01-28
Published in Print: 2022-03-28

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical pulping
  3. Evaluation of fines separation from unbleached softwood kraft pulp using microperforated hole screens
  4. Evaluation of pulp and paper making properties of Caesalpinia decapetela
  5. Novel bulking technologies for cellulose fibres
  6. Mechanical pulping
  7. Interpretation of force profiles in mill-scale LC refining
  8. Effects of plate wear on bar forces and fiber properties in a mill scale LC-refiner
  9. Paper technology
  10. Research on the physical properties of calcium sulfate whisker and the effects of its addition on paper and its printing performance
  11. Preparation and properties of an intelligent adjustable functional paper for organic cultural relics
  12. Paper chemistry
  13. Application of DSA to improve strength of thermomechanical pulp blended paper
  14. Coating
  15. The influence of pigment modulus on failure resistance of paper barrier coatings
  16. Effect of filler additions on pilot-scale extrusion coating of paperboard with PLA-based blends
  17. Packaging
  18. Influence of paper properties on adhesive strength of starch gluing
  19. Environmental impact
  20. Interfering elements on determination of hexavalent chromium in paper materials with UV-vis spectrophotometry
  21. Nanotechnology
  22. Enhanced mechanical and gas barrier performance of plasticized cellulose nanofibril films
  23. Lignin
  24. The preparations of nanoporous carbon with multi-heteroatoms co-doping from black liquor powders for supercapacitors
  25. Miscellaneous
  26. Hybrid films from plant and bacterial nanocellulose: mechanical and barrier properties
  27. Mass-balance based soft sensor for monitoring ash content at two-ply paperboard manufacturing
  28. Investigation of the effect of light fastness on the color changes of maps prepared by electrophotographic digital printing
  29. Bulking of cellulose fibres – a review
  30. Preparation of O-HACC/HEC-acrylate emulsion and its application in paper protection
  31. Mineral-filled biopolyester coatings for paperboard packaging materials: barrier, sealability, convertability and biodegradability properties
https://doi.org/10.1515/npprj-2021-0076
Keywords for this article
biopolymer; coating; converting; filler; packaging

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical pulping
  3. Evaluation of fines separation from unbleached softwood kraft pulp using microperforated hole screens
  4. Evaluation of pulp and paper making properties of Caesalpinia decapetela
  5. Novel bulking technologies for cellulose fibres
  6. Mechanical pulping
  7. Interpretation of force profiles in mill-scale LC refining
  8. Effects of plate wear on bar forces and fiber properties in a mill scale LC-refiner
  9. Paper technology
  10. Research on the physical properties of calcium sulfate whisker and the effects of its addition on paper and its printing performance
  11. Preparation and properties of an intelligent adjustable functional paper for organic cultural relics
  12. Paper chemistry
  13. Application of DSA to improve strength of thermomechanical pulp blended paper
  14. Coating
  15. The influence of pigment modulus on failure resistance of paper barrier coatings
  16. Effect of filler additions on pilot-scale extrusion coating of paperboard with PLA-based blends
  17. Packaging
  18. Influence of paper properties on adhesive strength of starch gluing
  19. Environmental impact
  20. Interfering elements on determination of hexavalent chromium in paper materials with UV-vis spectrophotometry
  21. Nanotechnology
  22. Enhanced mechanical and gas barrier performance of plasticized cellulose nanofibril films
  23. Lignin
  24. The preparations of nanoporous carbon with multi-heteroatoms co-doping from black liquor powders for supercapacitors
  25. Miscellaneous
  26. Hybrid films from plant and bacterial nanocellulose: mechanical and barrier properties
  27. Mass-balance based soft sensor for monitoring ash content at two-ply paperboard manufacturing
  28. Investigation of the effect of light fastness on the color changes of maps prepared by electrophotographic digital printing
  29. Bulking of cellulose fibres – a review
  30. Preparation of O-HACC/HEC-acrylate emulsion and its application in paper protection
  31. Mineral-filled biopolyester coatings for paperboard packaging materials: barrier, sealability, convertability and biodegradability properties
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