Oil- and water-resistant paper coatings: A review
The most frequent method for overcoming the inborn limitations of paper materials is to add coatings on the outer layer of the paper.
Paper coatings based on petroleum-based compounds such as fluoro-compounds, polyethylene, and waxes are utilised to alter the properties of paper. Although such polymers promote surface water resistance, their unfavorable qualities — poor recycling and lack of biodegradability — have led to their decline. However, using such non-renewable and non-biodegradable materials not only poses a threat to the environment and human health but also releases greenhouse gases.
Different coating techniques
A new review paper covers a detailed analysis of the water and oil resistance characteristics of several synthetic and naturally occurring polymers and their composites used as paper coatings for food packaging applications. The combination of polymers and their modifications with various agents and fillers can be utilized to build coatings that enhance the water and oil resistance of papers. There are also discussions about different coating techniques and the various solvents used to prepare coating solutions.
The review has been published in Progress in Organic Coatings, Volume 186, January 2024.
