Biodegradable hydrophobic cellulosic substrates and methods for their production using reactive silanes

Abstract

A method for rendering a substrate hydrophobic while maintaining its biodegradability includes treating the substrate with a reactive silane such that the reactive silane forms a resin in the interstitial spaces of the substrate. The method parameters are controlled such that the resulting hydrophobic cellulosic substrate is compostable.

Description

[0001] Cross references to related patent applications [0002] none. technical field [0003] The present invention discloses a biodegradable hydrophobic substrate and a method for rendering the substrate hydrophobic. Reactive silanes are used in this method. Background technique [0004] Cellulosic substrates such as paper and cardboard (such as corrugated fibreboard, paperboard, display board or card stock) products encounter different environmental conditions depending on their intended use. For example, cardboard is often used as packaging material for shipping and / or storing products and must provide a durable enclosure that protects its contents. Some of such environmental conditions that these packaging materials may be exposed to are rain, temperature changes (which may promote condensation), flooding, snow, ice, frost, hail, or any other form of moisture. Other products include disposable food service articles, which are typically made of paper or cardboard. Th...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, many coatings are expensive to obtain and difficult to apply, thereby increasing manufacturing cost and complexity and reducing the percentage of acceptable finished products

Additionally, coatings may degrade over time or suffer mechanical properties and reduced effectiveness

Coatings also have an inherent weakness of poor substrate edge preparation

Even though the edges can be treated to make the entire substrate hydrophobic, any cracks, tears, wrinkles or wrinkles in the treated substrate can expose the wettable untreated surface and allow water to be absorbed into the bulk of the substrate middle