| Abstract Scope |
Paper is a sustainable material that comes from plants, is recyclable and, to some extent, moldable. So, wherever possible, we should replace plastic with paper to reduce waste and CO2 emissions. However, in some cases, the strength of the paper is insufficient, in particular, humidities are concerned. Therefore, a coating is unavoidable, and production costs are increased. Especially, the paper loses its original glosses, for example, it is extremely fatal to paper crafts. In this study, the authors developed a novel method to increase the strength of paper by infiltrating a photocurable resin (PCR) solution in which cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are dispersed. Adopting PCR, which can be instantaneously cured by UV-light irradiation, it is possible to reduce production energy consumption and thermal damages to the paper compared to the conventional coatings. The effects of the weight fractions of PCR solution and CNF dispersion on the elastic modulus and strength of paper were investigated. Additionally, gloss of the paper with infiltering PCR and CNF was evaluated. As a result, it was found that the application of CNF by dispersing in a PCR solution can improve both the elastic modulus and tensile strength, also, the gloss of paper can be reduced. |