Degradable Gelatin-Based Supramolecular Coating for Green Paper Sizing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Sustainable Chemistry

Background:

• Developing cost-effective, high-quality, and sustainable paper sizing agents is a significant challenge.
• Existing sizing agents often face limitations in environmental impact or performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, degradable gelatin-based coating emulsion for paper surface sizing.
• To enhance paper properties such as mechanical strength and water resistance while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Main Methods:

• A one-step polymerization and blending process was used to create the emulsion.
• Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) was introduced to gelatin to form a gelatin-PMAA emulsion (G-PMAA) via hydrogen bonding.
• Poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) was blended with G-PMAA to form the final G-PMAA/PBA emulsion, improving film toughness.

Main Results:

• The addition of PMAA increased gelatin's hydrophobicity and decreased its upper critical solution temperature.
• The G-PMAA/PBA emulsion remained in a sol state at room temperature, facilitating application.
• Corrugated papers treated with the G-PMAA/PBA emulsion showed improved mechanical properties and water resistance.

Conclusions:

• The developed degradable gelatin-based emulsion offers a promising sustainable alternative for paper sizing.
• The G-PMAA/PBA emulsion effectively enhances the performance of corrugated paper.
• This novel approach addresses the need for eco-friendly and high-performance paper treatment solutions.