Plasma-Deposited Organosilicon Hydrophobic Coatings on Cellulosic Materials for Wet Packaging Applications

Non-toxic organosilicon coatings with hydrophobic properties were deposited on Kraft paper films using atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge. In order to assess the applicability of the plasma-deposited coating in the food packaging industry, its stability in different liquids (i.e., food simulants) was studied. Chemical analyses reveal that the food simulants, namely, de-ionized water, acetic acid, ethanol, and heptane, do not significantly alter the chemical composition or the hydrophobicity of the coatings. Based on inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy analyses, the amount of Si released from the plasma-deposited coating is less than that typically detected in tap water. Overall, the results obtained suggest that hydrophobic plasma-deposited organosilicon coatings have great potential for use in food and wet packaging applications, especially considering their environmentally friendly character.

Automated summary

Non-toxic organosilicon coatings with hydrophobic properties were successfully deposited on Kraft paper films using atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge. The stability of the plasma-deposited coating in different liquids (food simulants) was tested, and the results showed that the chemical composition and hydrophobicity of the coating were not significantly affected. The release of Si from the coating was also found to be lower than the typical amount detected in tap water.