Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on the planet, and it is a straight-chain polysaccharide comprised of β-1,4-linked d-glucose units with degrees of polymerization ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Cellulose is a key basic element in the production of paper. Furthermore, cellulose-based products are widely employed in plastics, explosives, electrical and scientific research equipment, and other applications.
Cellulose substrates with functional surfaces can provide numerous performance benefits in a wide range of applications. Alfa Chemistry provides cellulosic substrates with unique functionalized surface coating services. You can adjust the surface performance of practically any cellulose-related product using our wide and simple surface modification technologies. You may easily adjust the surface qualities of your items if you work with us!
Extensive Surface Modification Technology Options
Alfa Chemistry provides China Polymer Surface Coating Technology to its customers, which allows them to functionalize the surface of cellulose substrates with varied qualities in order to improve their various surface attributes. Our surface modification technology options include but are not limited to the following.
- Surface Waterproof Coating Technology - The surface of the cellulose substrate can be functionalized to make it water and oil repellent, making it resistant to nearly any liquid.
- Hydrophilic coating technology - We apply specialist surface coating technology to provide hydrophilic qualities to the surface of cellulose substrates, making them extremely hydrophilic.
- Adhesion Promotion Coating Technology - By functionalizing the surfaces of cellulose substrates, we can improve their adherence.
- Particle Modified Coating Technology - By functionalizing cellulose particles, Alfa Chemistry can improve particle behavior, reduce aggregation, and promote cross-linking.
- Lubricant Coating Technology - We can functionalize the surface of cellulose substrates to improve their surface lubricity.
All of these nanoscale coatings can be manufactured and are chemically stable, optically transparent, and highly durable.
Learn more about our hydrophobic and oleophobic coatings.
Learn more about our hydrophilic coatings.
Learn more about our adhesion promotion coatings.
Learn more about our particle-modified coatings.
Learn more about our lubricant coatings.
Alfa Chemistry Coating Solution Cases
Case 1: Stable Superhydrophobic Coatings for Food Applications
Alfa Chemistry has created a two-layer superhydrophobic coating with good thermal and mechanical durability for cellulose-based substrates using natural and edible components and a simple and cost-effective casting and spraying process. To achieve high surface roughness and low surface energy, the initial layer of the coating was created by spraying a surfactant-free beeswax or camelina wax emulsion on the surface. Casting was used to create the second layer, which consisted of corn alcohol soluble protein particles (ZP)/cellulose nanofibers (CNF) or precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC)/CNF of various thicknesses.
Fig 1. Schematic diagram of the surface structure of single-layer and double-layer superhydrophobic coatings. (Wang T, et al. 2021)
The surface morphology of the produced coatings is micron/submicron structured. The addition of PCC/CNF as a second layer considerably increases the superhydrophobic coating's thermal and cold stability. The two-layer coating with PCC/CNF has greatly increased mechanical stability.
Reference
- Wang T, et al. (2021). "Fabrication of Thermally and Mechanically Stable Superhydrophobic Coatings for Cellulose-Based Substrates with Natural and Edible Ingredients for Food Applications." Food Hydrocolloids. 120: 106877.
