Improving Packaging\nSustainability: Cellulose-Based\nCoatings with Enhanced Barrier Properties and Oxidative Stability

In\nthe frame of a rising demand for sustainable packaging\nsolutions,\nthis paper presents a comprehensive study on exploiting cellulose\nderivative-based coatings to elevate the functionality of paper as\na packaging material. Obtainable from renewable sources, cellulose\nderivatives emerge as a promising avenue for enhancing paper’s\nmechanical strength and barrier properties. Taking innovation further,\nwe introduce an inventive approach by modifying these cellulose-based\ncoatings with detonated nanodiamonds [detonation nanodiamond (DND)].\nOur investigation spans a whole characterization of the modified cellulose-based\ncoatings, providing insights into their structural and surface properties\nand determining how those properties are modified with the addition\nof small amount of DND to the system. This integration imparts unique\nproperties, including improved mechanical strength, barrier capabilities,\nand thermal stability. Significantly, we achieved a 70% increase in\npaper water vapor barrier resistance, a 6-fold improvement in mechanical\nresistance, and enhanced chemical stability in strongly acidic oxidizing\nenvironments. The results underscore the vast potential of cellulose-based\ncoatings, particularly when tailored with DNDs, which present sustainable\nsolutions with superior performance characteristics. This research\nnot only addresses the pressing need for eco-friendly packaging materials\nbut also contributes to advancing the effectiveness of cellulose derivatives\nto be useable in the packaging industry.