Investigation of barrier properties of the coated and treated papers with polycaprolactone/cellulose nanocrystals/ZnO nanoparticles

In this study, the effect of various treatments with cellulose nanocrystals (NCC) and ZnO during papermaking and coating with these nanomaterials and polycaprolactone (PCL) on the barrier properties of the papers was investigated. The samples were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) devices. In this research, the nanomaterials and the polymer with the specified condition (4%, 6% NCC, 3% ZnO and 10% PCL) were added to the paper pulps during the papermaking and also as a coating agent. Cationic polyacrylamide used as a nanomaterials retention aid in the papermaking process. the results showed the barrier properties (water absorption, air permeability and grease absorption) of the treated papers were improved but the effect of NCC% increment was more clear in the enhancement of the barrier properties and the treated papers with the nanomaterials mixture had the best barrier properties.furthermore the barrier properties of the coated papers were enhanced with the nanomaterials addition and the NCC nanoparticles had the main role, also the mixture of nanomaterials and PCL had the best barrier properties. Also, the barrier properties of the coated papers were higher than the treated papers.