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Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) plasma, using inductively coupled plasma technique, was applied on paperboard surfaces. Effects of different treatment times on water and oil resistances, mechanical properties (through tensile, compression and folding endurance tests) and barrier properties [through water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR)] were determined. Results showed that SF6 plasma treatment can improve water resistance properties of paperboard significantly, beginning with only a 2 s treatment time (p ≤ 0.05), whereas oil resistance properties can be improved over a longer time period. Plasma treatment had no effect on tensile strength of treated paperboard; however, machine direction (MD) compression strength, as well as MD and CD folding endurance, of treated paperboard was significantly lower than that for an untreated sample (p ≤ 0.05). WVTR and OTR of treated paperboard were higher with increasing treatment time, because of fluorine atoms and electron bombardment causing etching of cellulose fibres. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This research attempted to improve water resistance and barrier properties of paperboard by electrospraying the material with poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The focus was to reduce the amount of PLA in the coating process and to achieve the thinnest possible PLA coating layer. PLA solutions were prepared at 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% (w/v) in chloroform. PLA solution (10 ml) was sprayed onto the paperboard. The results showed that water and oil contact angles of paperboard were significantly increased after electrospraying. Water and oil absorption was significantly reduced, especially when using PLA concentration of 1%. PLA concentrations below 1% produced too few PLA particles on the surface for full coverage, whereas concentrations above 1% led to an uneven agglomeration of PLA particles on the substrate. The results also showed that water vapour transmission rate and oxygen transmission rate of paperboard were significantly reduced at PLA concentration of at least 1%. On the basis of electrospraying technique, the amount of PLA can be significantly reduced to achieve results comparable to other common coating methods.