ANGELICA GIOVAGNOLI1, DANIELE CARETTI1, DANIELE CORTECCHIA1, GIOVANNI MAZZOTTI2, FIORENZO PARRINELLO2, FABRIZIO PUCCI2
1Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna, Via Piero Gobetti 85, 40129 Bologna, Italy – Email: angelica.giovagnoli2@unibo.it
2SACMI Imola S.C., Via Selice 17/A, 40026 Imola (BO), Italy
The growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions has led to a surge in interest in utilizing paper and other cellulose-based materials, as renewable and biodegradable alternatives to traditional plastics1. The packaging industry and manufacturers are investing in the development of high- performance materials and efficient strategies to produce paper and cellulose materials with notable barrier properties. These bio-based alternatives not only fulfill the functional requirements of packaging but also help minimizing environmental harm, thereby accelerating the shift toward a more sustainable future2. Among the available bio-based solutions, fatty acids, vegetable oils, and their derivatives have demonstrated considerable potential in enhancing the surface hydrophobicity of various materials while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint3.
The goal of this PhD project is to develop highly hydrophobic coatings made from sustainable building blocks, ensuring their easy application onto cellulose-based substrates using an industrial- scale machinery. The research project focuses on synthesizing innovative hydrophobizing additives used as coatings for cellulose substrates, derived from polyols, flavonoids, and fatty acids, all exhibiting strong hydrophobic properties. Different spectroscopic and thermal techniques have been carried out for structures and properties evaluation not only on pure products but also for studying chemical interactions (by Solid State-NMR) between them and the inorganic compound able to strongly enhance the hydrophobic properties (water contact angles > 140°). SEM images have shown the morphology of the different coatings applied around the cellulose fibers.
This all-encompassing approach underscores the technological and material progress achieved throughout the project, setting the stage for its future application on industrial scale.