Utilisation of continuous atomic layer deposition process for barrier enhancement of extrusion-coated paper

作者：Lahtinen Kimmo^*; Maydannik Philipp; Johansson Petri; Kaariainen Tommi; Cameron David C; Kuusipalo Jurkka

来源：Surface and Coatings Technology, 2011, 205(15): 3916-3922.

DOI：10.1016/j.surfcoat.2011.02.009

• Continuous atomic layer deposition
• Aluminium oxide
• Extrusion-coated paper
• Barrier properties

The feasibility of a novel continuous atomic layer deposition process in improving the barrier properties of extrusion-coated papers was investigated. The polymer coatings on paper were low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephtalate and polylactide. The new method was tested by depositing 100 nm aluminium oxide layers on the polymer side of the structures. According to test results, the aluminium oxide layer produced significant barrier improvements. The water vapour and oxygen transmission rates measured were approximately 3-5 times lower than those of the untreated samples. Even better improvements were found for the water vapour transmission rates of polyethylene terephtalate and polylactide coated papers being over 10 times lower than for the untreated structures. It is proposed that the better water vapour barrier improvements were found because of these polymers' disposition to water sorption in the non-processed samples. The continuous atomic layer deposition process caused also considerable changes in the topography and morphology of some polymers, which reduced the barrier properties and applicability of the structures. Further research is needed to enable the use of lower process temperatures in the continuous atomic layer deposition process, which would improve the feasibility of the new method.