Water resistance and mechanical properties of biopolymer (alginate and soy protein) coated paperboards

The effect of biopolymer coating on the water barrier and mechanical properties of paperboards used as corrugated fiberboard box liners was studied under several conditions. Paperboards were coated with selected biopolymers, such as alginate and soy protein isolate (SPI) and studied with or without further treatment, such as cross-linking through CaCl2 or formaldehyde treatment and compositing with organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT). Biopolymer coating increased the thickness of paperboards from 9% to 16%, depending on the coating materials and treatment methods, and resulted in a smoother and more homogeneous surface. Though the tensile strength (TS) of the coated paperboards decreased from 12.5% to 37.5% of the uncoated paperboards by coating, ring crush strength was not decreased. Wetting properties, such as contact angle of water drop, dynamic change in contact angle, water vapor permeability (WVP), and water absorptivity were also affected by biopolymer coating, but the degree of change was dependent on the coating materials as well as treatment methods. For example, the rate of change in contact angle of water on paperboards decreased dramatically from 1.4 to 3.8 times depending on the coating materials as well as treatment methods. Generally, SPI-coated paperboards were more water-resistant than alginate coated ones. However, water resistance of the alginate-coated paperboards post-treated with the CaCl2 solution was comparable to the SPI coated ones.