A new and easy-to-implement green packaging option with recycled paperboard and PBAT film

A commercial recycled paperboard was double coated with poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) films by using hot pressing aiming the production of a laminated material compatible with food packaging. The proposed new approach allowed to smooth the paperboard surface and to obtain a material with low oxygen permeability, low wettability, and excellent resistance to grease (kit value of 12). The observations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a homogeneous surface with a high degree of coverage, suggesting good compatibility of the PBAT with the cellulose fibers. Some of the mechanical properties of the PBAT-coated paperboard were also greatly improved, such as ply-bonding, bending resistance and bursting strength, which are important for packaging applications. Remarkably, it was possible to firmly bond two pieces of paperboard coated with PBAT by simply hot-pressing at an appropriate temperature. This method created a reinforced coated paperboard that showed high potential to be used in the production of laminated food packaging with different structures without the need of adhesives.