Rheological Properties and Immobilization Behavior of Water-Based Polymer Coatings on Paper Using an Immobilization Cell
(2026) MTTM01 20261Packaging Logistics
Production and Materials Engineering
- Abstract
- The growing demand for sustainable packaging has driven the transition from fossil-based materials to renewable alternatives, such as paper-based packaging combined with water-based coatings and adhesive. In such systems, coating performance is strongly governed by the transition from a liquid to a solid-state during application. Understanding this immobilization process is therefore essential for controlling coating quality, adhesion, and processability. This study investigates the immobilization behavior and rheological evolution of water-based polymer coatings, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch and silk protein, using an Immobilization Cell (IMC) equipped to a modular compact rheometer. Oscillatory measurements enable... (More)
- The growing demand for sustainable packaging has driven the transition from fossil-based materials to renewable alternatives, such as paper-based packaging combined with water-based coatings and adhesive. In such systems, coating performance is strongly governed by the transition from a liquid to a solid-state during application. Understanding this immobilization process is therefore essential for controlling coating quality, adhesion, and processability. This study investigates the immobilization behavior and rheological evolution of water-based polymer coatings, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch and silk protein, using an Immobilization Cell (IMC) equipped to a modular compact rheometer. Oscillatory measurements enable simultaneous monitoring of complex viscosity and gap evolution during controlled dewatering, providing insight into concentration-driven network formation. The results reveal distinct immobilization behaviors for each polymer system. Starch exhibits the earliest and fastest transition. Silk protein shows intermediate behavior, with a more gradual development of structure. In contrast, PVOH displays the slowest response, with delayed and progressive immobilization. Additional measurements using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and bulk rheology test confirmed the stability of all polymer solutions, indicating that the observed changes are primarily governed by the dewatering process. Performance tests, including cobb and adhesion (tack) tests, were conducted to evaluate coating performance. Overall, the study highlights how different polymers respond during dewatering and immobilization. It also demonstrates that IMC is a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing water-based coatings, particularly for sustainable packaging applications. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- Water-based coatings are widely used in paper packaging as a more sustainable alternative to plastic materials. However, the performance of these coatings depends on how they change from a liquid into a solid layer during the coating process.
When a coating is applied to paper, water is removed from the liquid layer into the porous paper structure. This process is called dewatering. As water is removed, the polymer concentration increases, and the coating gradually loses its ability to flow. This transition is known as immobilization, and it plays a key role in determining how the coating spreads, penetrates the paper, and forms a final film.
In this study, a specialized measurement technique called the Immobilization Measurement Cell... (More) - Water-based coatings are widely used in paper packaging as a more sustainable alternative to plastic materials. However, the performance of these coatings depends on how they change from a liquid into a solid layer during the coating process.
When a coating is applied to paper, water is removed from the liquid layer into the porous paper structure. This process is called dewatering. As water is removed, the polymer concentration increases, and the coating gradually loses its ability to flow. This transition is known as immobilization, and it plays a key role in determining how the coating spreads, penetrates the paper, and forms a final film.
In this study, a specialized measurement technique called the Immobilization Measurement Cell (IMC) was used to monitor this process under controlled conditions. The method allows real-time tracking of changes in the coating during dewatering by measuring its resistance to deformation and changes in thickness. This makes it possible to study coating behavior under conditions that are relevant to industrial coating processes.
Three different coating materials such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch, and silk protein were investigated, along with two paper substrates with different properties. This allowed the study of how both material and substrate influence immobilization behavior.
The results show that different materials behave in different ways. Starch forms structure very quickly, PVOH changes more slowly, and silk protein shows intermediate behavior. These differences are mainly related to how each material interacts and responds during dewatering.
Overall, the study shows that immobilization is a dynamic process controlled by both material properties and the experimental conditions. Understanding this behavior is important for better controlling coating formation and for developing more efficient and sustainable packaging systems. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9241660
- author
- Hayat, Aqsa LU
- supervisor
-
- Cedric Dicko LU
- organization
- course
- MTTM01 20261
- year
- 2026
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Immobilization Cell (IMC), Water-based polymer Coatings, Paper Substrates, Dewatering, Rheological properties, Immobilization behavior Packaging Logistics
- language
- English
- id
- 9241660
- date added to LUP
- 2026-06-25 13:07:58
- date last changed
- 2026-06-25 13:07:58
@misc{9241660,
abstract = {{The growing demand for sustainable packaging has driven the transition from fossil-based materials to renewable alternatives, such as paper-based packaging combined with water-based coatings and adhesive. In such systems, coating performance is strongly governed by the transition from a liquid to a solid-state during application. Understanding this immobilization process is therefore essential for controlling coating quality, adhesion, and processability. This study investigates the immobilization behavior and rheological evolution of water-based polymer coatings, including polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), starch and silk protein, using an Immobilization Cell (IMC) equipped to a modular compact rheometer. Oscillatory measurements enable simultaneous monitoring of complex viscosity and gap evolution during controlled dewatering, providing insight into concentration-driven network formation. The results reveal distinct immobilization behaviors for each polymer system. Starch exhibits the earliest and fastest transition. Silk protein shows intermediate behavior, with a more gradual development of structure. In contrast, PVOH displays the slowest response, with delayed and progressive immobilization. Additional measurements using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and bulk rheology test confirmed the stability of all polymer solutions, indicating that the observed changes are primarily governed by the dewatering process. Performance tests, including cobb and adhesion (tack) tests, were conducted to evaluate coating performance. Overall, the study highlights how different polymers respond during dewatering and immobilization. It also demonstrates that IMC is a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing water-based coatings, particularly for sustainable packaging applications.}},
author = {{Hayat, Aqsa}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Rheological Properties and Immobilization Behavior of Water-Based Polymer Coatings on Paper Using an Immobilization Cell}},
year = {{2026}},
}