Sustainable and Robust Coating with Superhydrophobic and Oil-Repellent Performance for Biodegradable Catering...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Sustainable Packaging

Background:

• Nonbiodegradable coatings on paper packaging pose environmental challenges.
• Developing eco-friendly alternatives is crucial for sustainable packaging solutions.
• Janus wettability, inspired by nature, offers unique surface properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a durable, superhydrophobic, oil-repellent, and biodegradable coating for paper packaging.
• To address the environmental concerns associated with conventional paper packaging.
• To demonstrate a scalable strategy for fabricating functional coatings.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a bilayered coating on a paper substrate.
• Utilizing carboxymethyl cellulose sodium for the inner hydrophilic layer.
• Employing silica nanoparticles for the outer superhydrophobic layer.
• Investigating adhesion mechanisms through hydrogen bonding and chemical bonding.

Main Results:

• The bilayered coating demonstrated exceptional superhydrophobicity and oil repellency.
• The coating exhibited excellent durability against bending, scratching, peeling, and aging.
• The functional coating rapidly and completely degraded in soil.
• Coated paper packaging successfully contained various liquids, including hot water, coffee, milk, and oils.

Conclusions:

• The developed Janus coating provides a practical and scalable approach for eco-friendly paper packaging.
• The coating effectively achieves robust waterproofing and oil repellency.
• The study successfully addressed the challenge of adhesion between paper substrates and superhydrophobic materials.