ADVANCED COMPOSITES: CELLULOSE-ECOPLASTIC

摘要

Cellulose based composite materials - papers and cardboards are widely used for manufacturing of packaging. These materials are ecologically safe due to their ability to biodegradation and repulping. However, papers and boards are hydrophilic and porous composite materials. Therefore, they do not protect packed products from the effect of water, grease, oils, solvents, air moisture, various vapors and gases. In order to ensure of barrier properties, cellulose substrates are laminated or coated with synthetic polymers. From various composites, cellulose-polyvinylidenchloride composite has the best barrier properties. However, this composite is very expensive, and therefore it is preferred accomplish coating of cellulose substrate with cheaper polyolefins. Despite the fact, that cellulose-polymer composites possess good barrier properties, their prospective application is problematic because of the ecological reason. Since they are non-biodegradable and non-repulpable as paper or board, and non-recyclable as common plastic, wastes of these composite materials pollute the environment.