Production of Coated Papers with Improved Properties by Using a Water-Soluble Chitosan Derivative

Eucalyptus globulus-based paper sheets were coated with chitosan and a water-soluble chitosan derivative on a pilot-size press machine. Different coating weights were attained by the deposition of 1-5 coating layers. The morphological, mechanical, barrier, and optical properties as well as the paper aging and inkjet print quality of the ensuing coated papers were investigated and assessed. In general, both chitosan and water-soluble chitosan coatings had a positive impact on the final properties of the coated papers, which was quite dependent on the number of deposited chitosan layers. The results obtained also showed that the water-soluble chitosan-coated papers presented superior optical properties and printability and better results on aging measurements than chitosan-coated papers. Therefore, the use of water-soluble chitosan derivatives on paper coating processes represents an interesting and sustainable strategy for the development of new functional paper materials or for the improvement of the end-user properties of paper products.