Degradable Polymeric Waxes for Paper Coating Applications

Abstract

Packaging accounts for 46% of plastic waste, and due to microplastic concerns associated with plastics, coated paper is seen as a greener alternative. However, the existing coated paper lacks recyclability and biodegradability. Reported here is the synthesis of degradable polymeric waxes for paper coating applications. The synthesized polymeric waxes were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography. The waxes were coated onto kraft paper by using both solvent-based and solvent-free (hot-press) methods. The coated paper was evaluated for both water resistance (Cobb1800) and oil resistance (kit rating). Additionally, packaging-relevant properties, such as moisture barrier tests and thermal sealing tests, were also performed on the coated paper. Furthermore, degradation of the polymeric waxes and repulping of the coated paper were also performed. This useinspired work holds promise to advance sustainable paper packaging that will offer benefits for both human and environmental health.

Synthesis of Water-Dispersible Poly(dimethylsiloxane) and Its Potential Application in the Paper Coating Industry as an Alternative for PFAS-Coated Paper and Single-Use Plastics

“…For this analysis, a series of kit test solutions (Nos. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] having different ratios of castor oil, heptane, and toluene [3] was prepared. The kit test results were expressed in numbers ranging from 1 to 12.…”

“…The packaging industry's reliance on single-use plastic and plastic-coated paper has become a major concern for our modern society as these materials end up in landfills as municipal solid waste, and they often leak into the oceans and other bodies of water, where they are converted into small particles known as microplastics [1][2][3][4]. These single-use plastics [5], as well as plastic-coated paper, are the leading cause of the accumulation of plastics and microplastics in the environment [6], and this accumulation has increased radically in recent years [7,8]. There are approximately 150 million tons of plastic floating in marine environments along with an additional dose of approximately 8 million tons of plastic coming each year to the oceans.…”

Sustainable Packaging with Waterborne Acrylated Epoxidized Soybean Oil

“…Coated and laminated paper are widely used in industry for packaging applications as they combine the performance of plastics with the sustainability of paper . For example, coated paper substrates offer better oil and water resistance than their uncoated counterparts, making them suitable for packaging applications such as cups, plates, straws, aseptic cartons, food wrappers, etc. − However, coated and laminated paper are difficult to recycle because the coating must be separated from paper pulp . As a result, coated paper is sent to landfills or incinerated .…”

High-Performance Synthetic Waxes for a Sustainable Packaging Ecosystem

“…Very recently, we reported the development of degradable polymer-based waxes and their potential use for paper packaging applications . These polymers contained lactide oligomers in their side chains, which were capped at their ends by stearic acid and carbon–carbon backbones.…”