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TAPPI TIP 0402-27 Guidelines for Inspection of Continuous Digesters and Impregnation Vessels, TAPPICon25

From Digital Overload to True Transformation: Paving the Path to Autonomous Mills, TAPPICon25

Innovative Data Analytics in the P&P Industry: Balancing Ad Hoc Insights with Automated Consistency, TAPPICon25

From Data To Action: The Emergence of Intelligent Safety, TAPPICon25

Suberin-based dispersions for barrier coating, TAPPICon25

Water-barrier coating based on lignin oil found on the principle of an O/W Pickering emulsion stabilized by different nanocelluloses together with or without pectin, TAPPICon25

Improving size press efficiency through utility of refined water-soluble lignin, TAPPICon25

Innovative Alpha-Glucans Polysaccharides, TAPPICon25

Editorial: Advancing barrier science and protective materials: The 2025 winners of TAPPI Journal Best Research Paper Award and Honghi Tran Prize, TAPPI Journal April 2026

At the end of each year, the TAPPI Journal Editorial Board Members nominate papers for consideration as recipient of the Best Research Paper and Honghi Tran Prize from that year, looking for outstanding contributions that push the science and engineering boundaries of fiber-based materials. For 2025, the Board nominated 10 papers and evaluated each nomination in terms of scientific merit, innovation, creativity, and clarity. After voting on the papers earlier this year, the Editorial Board chose two co-winning papers for this distinct honor.

Water and grease resistance of paperboard coated with long chain cellulose fatty acid esters using electrostatic powder coating, TAPPI Journal April 2026

ABSTRACT: Fiber-based materials used for foodservice, takeaway, and other packaging applications must typically provide water and grease resistance. Simultaneously, there is growing interest towards bio-based and renewable barrier coatings. In this study we applied thermoplastic long chain fatty acid cellulose esters onto paperboard using electrostatic powder coating to create barrier properties of interest. Electrostatic powder coating provides a water-free process to tackle moisture-induced quality issues and to provide an even coating layer. Cellulose octanoate and palmitate esters were produced in pilot scale. These were ground into fine particles using liquid nitrogen and applied onto paperboard sheets using an electrostatic powder gun. The loosely packed coatings were fixed and fused onto the paperboard by hot pressing. We characterized the coated sheets for coating thickness, contact angles with water, water absorption, grease resistance (KIT), and olive oil barrier. Two commercial polyethylene powders were used as references. Our results indicated that the long chain cellulose fatty acid ester coatings were thermoplastic and hydrophobic with contact angles above 100°. Water absorption was similar to the reference coatings. While grease resistance was lower than with the references, the cellulose ester coatings slowed down diffusion of olive oil through the paperboard. Cellulose octanoate ester with a lower melt viscosity already provided smooth coatings after the initial hot pressing step, while in most cases, the second post hot pressing step further improved the barrier properties.