Hydrophobization of paper intended for packaging

Abstract

Superhydrophobic surfaces are highly desired for several applications due to their exceptional properties such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, anti-friction and others. Such surfaces can be prepared via numerous methods including plasma technology [1-7]. Among plasma technology methods used to prepare these surfaces, the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method, which provides the advantages of low cost, simple processing, and easy to form micro-nano structure. In this work, a treatment of surface paper for improving hydrophobicity using a PECVD technique was realized, paper substrates was treated by CH4 plasma , the substrates were held on a grounded substrate, with time variation of 5, 10, 15 and 20 min, while pressure and power have been kept constant at 8.10-2 and 100 W respectively. After deposition we proceeded to carry out structural and morphological characterization of the treated surfaces, by (SEM), AFM, FTIR and then through contact angle measurements. It is found that all layers are hydrophobic and super-hydrophobic. Except the layers treated for 10 minutes which are hydrophobic with a contact angle equal to 137.7° , the layers treated for 05, 15 and 20 minutes show superhydrophobic surfaces with a contact angles equal to 153.8°, , 149.2° and 156◦ respectively.