Tailoring surface properties of paper using nanosized precipitated calcium carbonate particles

Pigment particles used in paper coatings are typically of micrometer size and consequently the thickness of the coatings is, even at its lowest, in micrometer scale. Progress in nanotechnology has given way to the development of nanosized materials to be used in coatings, yet their exploitation has not been studied to a great extent. This study examines utilization of nanosized precipitated calcium carbonate (nanoPCC) particles in nanoscale thin coating layers. In contrast to commonly used coatings, a thin nanoparticle-based coating was targeted to change the substrate surface characteristics via controlled surface structure rather than via high coat weight. A novel approach for stabilizing and modifying the nanoPCC particles with pectin and alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) was utilized and a nanoparticle coating with uniform particle distribution was created. The coating applied on paper substrate was hydrophobic, having a water contact angle of 125°. Particle surface modification provided dispersion stability, enabling control of the coating layer structure. The introduced concept provides a new approach to paper coatings utilizing controlled deposition of nanoparticles with extremely low coat weight, yet having high impact on substrate surface properties. Additionally, as paper is an environmentally sound product, the approach to form a controllable nanostructure on a green substrate has potential in applications outside the traditional paper products.