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Cellulose micro and nanofibrils as coating agent for improved printability in office papers

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Abstract

The use of nanocelluloses is being conducted for the most diverse applications. Their performance as coating agent has been mainly explored to improve barrier properties, as they emerge as perfect candidate for plastic substitution, but it is also important to explore their potential to improve printing quality. In the present work, the influence of different nanocelluloses, obtained through mechanical, enzymatic, TEMPO-mediated oxidation and carboxymethylation treatments, in the coating process and inkjet printability of office papers was assessed. The results revealed that the cellulose nanofibrils are better for printability than the microfibrils. But the size and charge of the former must be taken into account, since fibrils of very small size penetrate the paper structure, dragging the pigments from the surface, and very anionic nanofibrils can also have negative influence on the optical density. Besides, an interesting synergy between surface-sizing starch and the cellulose nanofibrils was found to occur as the latter closed the paper structure, which prevented starch from penetrating, while potentiating both of their positive effects on ink pigment entrapment. An additional study of characterization of inkjet pigments was also performed.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal [SFRH/BDE/108095/2015]. Some of the work was conducted under Project inpactus—innovative products and technologies from eucalyptus, Project No. 21874 funded by Portugal 2020 through European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the frame of COMPETE 2020 no 246/AXIS II/2017.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Coimbra, CIEPQPF, Department of Chemical Engineering, Pólo II, R. Sílvio Lima, 3030-790, Coimbra, Portugal

    Ana F. Lourenço, José A. F. Gamelas & Paulo J. T. Ferreira

  2. The Navigator Company, Lavos - Apartado 5, 3081-851, Figueira da Foz, Portugal

    Pedro Sarmento

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  1. Ana F. Lourenço
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  2. José A. F. Gamelas
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  3. Pedro Sarmento
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  4. Paulo J. T. Ferreira
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Correspondence to Ana F. Lourenço or José A. F. Gamelas.

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Lourenço, A.F., Gamelas, J.A.F., Sarmento, P. et al. Cellulose micro and nanofibrils as coating agent for improved printability in office papers. Cellulose 27, 6001–6010 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03184-9

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