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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Poly-paper: a sustainable material for packaging, based on recycled paper and recyclable with paper
Barbara Del Curto1,2, Nadia Barelli1, Mauro Profaizer3
1Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Milan - Italy.
Background:
Until now, environmental sustainability issues are almost entirely unsolved for packaging materials. With the final aim of finding materials with a single recycling channel, cellulose fiber/poly(vinyl)alcohol composites were investigated.
Methods:
After extrusion and injection molding, samples of composite with different cellulose fiber content (30%, 50% and 70% w/w) were tested.
Results:
Tensile mechanical tests exhibited an improvement in composite stiffness when the reinforcement content was increased together with a decrease in composite elongation. Solubility tests performed at room temperature and 45°C showed different behavior depending on the water-resistant film applied on the composite (50% cellulose fiber content). In particular, the uncoated composite showed complete solubility after 2 hours, whereas at the same time point, no solubility occurred when a non-water-soluble varnish was used.
Conclusions:
The proposed composites, named Poly-paper, appear to warrant further investigation as highly sustainable packaging.
