Innovative Approaches for Converting a Wood Hydrolysate
to High-Quality Barrier Coatings
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Abstract
An advanced approach for the efficient
and controllable production of softwood hydrolysate-based coatings
with excellent oxygen-barrier performance is presented. An innovative
conversion of the spray-drying technique into a coating applicator
process allowed for a fast and efficient coating process requiring
solely aqueous solutions of softwood hydrolysate, even without additives.
Compared to analogous coatings prepared by manual application, the
spray-drying produced coatings were more homogeneous and smooth, and
they adhered more strongly to the substrate. The addition of glyoxal
to the aqueous softwood hydrolysate solutions prior to coating formation
allowed for hemicellulose cross-linking, which improved both the mechanical
integrity and the oxygen-barrier performance of the coatings. A real-time
scanning electron microscopy imaging assessment of the tensile deformation
of the coatings allowed for a deeper understanding of the ability
of the coating layer itself to withstand stress as well as the coating-to-substrate
adhesion