The Effect of OCC Fibers Surface Modification and Polyvinyl Alcohol on the Properties of Test Liner Paper

Abstract

One of the most important properties of paper is its mechanical strength. Recycled paper industry has different challenges related to fiber strength in old corrugated container (OCC). This study investigated of the efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as reinforcing agent when OCC fibers are modified with oxidative treatment by using hydrogen peroxide. The surface oxidation introduces carboxyl groups on the cellulosic chains of the OCC fibers, and PVA has significant effect on the reaction between fibers and carboxyl groups. Results showed that PVA-treated samples, especially the oxidized samples of the OCC fibers, exhibited significant improvement in tensile and burst strength compared to untreated samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the oxidative modification of OCC fibers leads to a decrease in porosity and an increase in the connection between fibers, and this process also leads to an increase in the adhesion of PVA and an improvement of its bonding. In addition, the treated samples showed higher resistance to fat permeation, which is a key characteristic for industrial packaging applications. This approach indicated the synergistic benefit of combining of the PVA and oxidized OCC fibers to boost the formation and barrier properties of the recycled papers. This method also presented an effective and eco-friendly solution to improve the recycled papers’ quality.