The effect of oxyalkylation and application of polymer dispersions on the thermoformability and extensibility of paper

Jarmo Kouko, Harri Setälä, Atsushi Tanaka, Alexey Khakalo, Jarmo Ropponen, Elias Retulainen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Wood fiber-based packaging materials, as renewable materials, have growing market potential due to their sustainability. A new breakthrough in cellulose-based packaging requires some improvement in the mechanical properties of paper. Bleached softwood kraft pulp was mechanically treated, in two stages, using high- and low-consistency refining, sequentially. Chemical treatment of pulp using the oxyalkylation method was applied to modify a portion of fiber material, especially the fiber surface, and its compatibility with polymer dispersions including one carbohydrate polymer. The results showed that the compatibility of the cellulosic fibers with some polymers could be improved with oxyalkylation. By adjusting mechanical and chemical treatments, and the thermoforming conditions, the formability of paper was improved, but simultaneously the strength and stiffness decreased. The results suggest that the formability of the paper is not a direct function of the extensibility of the applied polymer, but also depends on the fiber network structure and surface energy.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)411-419
    Number of pages9
    JournalCarbohydrate Polymers
    Volume186
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2018
    MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

    Keywords

    • biopolymer spraying
    • consumer packages
    • paper extensibility
    • starch acetate
    • strength of paper
    • thermoformable web

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