Paper Coating and Converting
(Åbo Akademi University)
Martti Toivakka
Professor
The development of substrates that are both compatible and active plays a key role in the future utilization of intelligent, functional natural fiber-based materials. The application of 'smart paper' technology to fiber-based substrates is challenging. This is most evident when such advanced technology is compared to the development of, for example, traditional publication papers. The research at LPCC aims towards understanding how fiber-based materials need to be modified to yield new, value-added functionality in paper and board products.
Our goals include the design and creation of substrates for paper electronics platform, i.e. production of surfaces that have compatibility with functional materials such as printed electronics and sensors. Depending on the target application, various substrate properties such as smoothness, porosity, wettability, electric conductivity and barrier properties must be controlled. Furthermore, the chemical and kinetic stability of these properties under variable environmental conditions has to be ensured.
By including functionality, e.g. bioactivity or magnetism, into the paper or paperboard substrate itself, new product concepts can be developed (active paper). Additionally, controlling the fine structure of a paper surface together with its chemistry may as such lead to novel and exciting applications.
Adapting traditional surface treatment techniques such as pigment coating, surface sizing and calendering, is important for improving substrate compatibility. Moreover, possibilities to utilize novel surface engineering techniques such as plasma deposition, self-assembly and liquid flame spray nano particle deposition as alternative methods of treating surfaces are being explored.
Street-address: Porthansgatan 3, FI-20500 Turku, FINLAND
Web-address: http://www.abo.fi/fak/tkf/pap/newpaf/pmwiki.php
