Lars Järnström

Lignin-containing coatings for packaging materials

Abstract The mechanical properties and chemical stability in water of self-supporting films made from aqueous solutions of starch and lignin, and the barrier properties of paperboard coated with solutions of these polymers have been studied. The dissolution of starch from the starch-lignin films in contact with the model liquids was decreased significantly when lignin was added to the starch films. The addition of ammonium zirconium carbonate (AZC) to the formulations as a crosslinking agent substantially increased the storage modulus of the starch-lignin films, which indicated that crosslinking had occurred. The addition of AZC to the formulations also led to a decrease in dissolution of both starch and lignin from the starch-lignin films in contact with model liquids. The effect of AZC on the water stability of the films was greater when the pH of the starch-lignin-AZC solution was adjusted with ammonia rather than NaOH. The addition of NH4Cl solution as a presumed catalyst to the recipe when the pH adjustment was performed with NaOH did not improve the effect of AZC on the water stability of the films. The water vapour transmission rate of the coated paperboard decreased slightly when AZC was added to the coating formulation.

Crack analysis of barrier coatings based on starch and starch-PVOH with and without plasticizer

Abstract Barrier coatings based on starch and starch-PVOH plasticized with glycerol and without plasticizer were applied to two different paperboard substrates, a triple coated board and duplex board, in order to investigate the tendency for cracks to develop in the barrier coating layers during creasing and folding. Tensile properties of films based on the starch and starch-PVOH blend were determined to investigate the relationship between the flexibility of the films and the cracking in the barrier coating layers. Furthermore, the oxygen transmission rate through the barrier-coated paperboard was measured before and after creasing and folding. The oxygen transmission rate through the barrier-coated samples was over the measurable range i.u2009e. OTR > 10000 cm 3 / m 2 daytext{OTR}>10000hspace{0.1667em}{text{cm}}^{3}/{text{m}}^{2}hspace{0.1667em}text{day} after creasing and folding, which indicated failure in the barrier coating layers. Optical microscopy revealed small cracks in the barrier coating layers, probably related to an increase in flexibility of the barrier coating layers. It was observed in scanning electron micrographs that cracks in the barrier coating layers seemed to follow the fibers when the barrier coating was applied on the rear side of the duplex board. Scanning electron micrographs and surface profiler images revealed that cracks in the barrier coating layers might have originated from the mineral coating layer when the starch and starch/PVOH coating layers were applied on the mineral-coated side of the triple coated board. An increase in the thickness of the barrier coating layer did not seem to increase the resistance to failure.