Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Preparation of hydrophobic paper by layer-by-layer assembly method of biopolymers and precipitated calcium carbonate modified with stearic acid

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
moghadase akbari 1
Elyas Afra 2
Mohammadreza Dehghani Firouzabadi 3
Seyed Majid Zabihzadeh 4
1 gorgan agricultural sciences and natural resources
2 Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources
3 Department of Paper Science and Engineering, Faculty of Wood and Paper Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.
4 Associated Professor, Wood and Cellulose Product Department, Sari Agricultural and Natural Resources University,
10.22034/ijwp.2024.2033522.1675
Abstract
Problem definition and objectives: Paper, as a renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable material, is considered the most suitable option for green packaging. Compared to plastic, paper-based packaging loses its mechanical strength when exposed to water during storage and transportation due to the inherent hydrophilicity of cellulose fibers. Consequently, developing water-resistant paper packaging using biodegradable and environmentally friendly materials is highly desirable. In this research, the effect of using the layer-by-layer self-assembly method with biopolymers and precipitated calcium carbonate modified with stearic acid on the properties of paper was investigated.
Methodology: The raw material used to make handsheet paper was 350 ml CSF (LF) bleached softwood Kraft pulp. To improve strength properties, the fibers were treated with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), and a suspension of untreated (70%) and CMC-treated (30%) cellulose fibers was used to create handsheet (MLF) with a grammage of 60 g/m2. Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) modified with stearic acid (MPCC) was combined with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a rheological controlling agent and deposited on the surface of the handsheet paper using chitosan and the layer-by-layer method (LBL). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm the modification of PCC with stearic acid. Additionally, to evaluate the surface charge of the MLF fiber suspension, chitosan solution, and CMC+MPCC composite, the zeta potential was measured. To examine the effect of paper surface modification on characteristics, thickness, grammage, tensile strength index, water contact angle, water absorbency time, and water absorption (Cobb), it has been evaluated.
Results: The results of the FTIR spectrum have confirmed the surface treatment of PCC with stearic acid due to the presence of certain groups (COOH, CH₂, and CH₃) in the MPCC spectrum, which is characteristic of stearic acid. The investigations showed that the MLF suspension, due to the presence of hydroxyl groups in the cellulose structure, had a negative charge, and its zeta potential was measured as -103.2 mV. The chitosan solution, due to the presence of amine groups in the molecular chain, exhibited a positive surface charge of +13.2 mV. Additionally, the CMC+MPCC composite had a zeta potential of -6.5 mV, which is attributed to the presence of COO- groups on the surface of CMC particles. Paper modified with LBL method showed increased thickness and grammage as the number of layers increased. The tensile index of modified paper has improved at lower stearic acid percentages compared to blank paper, but decreased with higher percentages of stearic acid. When MPCC multilayer modified paper samples with different stearic acid percentages were treated, the water contact angle and water absorption time increased while water absorption decreased. The maximum water contact angle in the papers treated with PCC modified with 12% stearic acid was measured at 136.17°, indicating a significant enhancement in their hydrophobic properties.
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the LBL method has a significant impact on enhancing the barrier properties and hydrophobicity of paper. LBL is a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly technique that can improve paper properties without the need for harmful chemicals. Therefore, this method can serve as an effective approach for the preparation of hydrophobic paper in the packaging industry and other related applications.
Keywords
Precipitated calcium carbonate
stearic acid
hydrophobic paper
layer-by-layer method

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries
Volume 15, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Pages 393-409