PHB/V in Extrusion Coating of Paper and Paperboard: Part I: Study of Functional Properties

Extrusion-coating experiments were carried out in the pilot line at Tampere Univesity of Technology (Institute of Paper Converting). Typical paper and paperboard substrates were coated with commercially produced 3-hydroxybutyrate/3-hydroxyvalerate. The resulting physical properties of extrusion-coated composite structures were studied. Adhesion between PHB/V and a fiber-based substrate was rather poor, regardless of typically used pretreatments (corona and flame). On the other hand, adhesion was sufficient (mode of failure was fiber tear as the materials were separated) when the substrate was primed with an acrylic-based primer. The surface energy and polarity of PHB/V were much higher than the respective ones of LDPE. Curling of PHB/V was reduced by the addition of wax or tall oil rosin into the base polymer.     

Starch-Based Polymers in Extrusion Coating

The starch-based polymers exhibited shear thinning and elastic nature in rheological characterizations. Thin coatings with narrow neck-in could be produced at fairly high extrusion coating line speeds. Adhesion between the starch-based polymers and paperboard was typically weak. Water vapor barrier of starches was very poor. Soft starch grades had a good pinhole resistance and a good heat sealing performance. Brittle nature of starch caused cracking as the coated paperboards were creased.     

PHB/V in Extrusion Coating of Paper and Paperboard—Study of Functional Properties. Part II

Extrusion coating experiments were carried out in the pilot line at Tampere University of Technology (Institute of Paper Converting). Commercially produced 3-hydroxybutyrate/3-hydroxyvalerate copolymer, commercial Finnish paper, and paperboard qualities were utilized as substrates. Functional properties, such as heat-sealing and hot-tack properties, pinhole density, and water vapor transmission rate were determined. PHB/V coatings exhibited approximately four–six times higher water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) than the corresponding LDPE coatings. The incorporation of wax or tall oil rosin into PHB/V improved its water vapor barrier. Curling of PHB/V was reduced by the addition of wax or tall oil rosin into the base polymer. PHB/V provided good heat-sealing characteristics at rather high sealing temperatures. Pinhole density was substantially reduced by using higher molecular weight PHB/V and by incorporating plasticizer into PHB/V.     

Managing Biodiversity in a Forestry Environment

In forest management and other land-use planning, ecological, social, and economical demands often conflict. Forest planning in particular has been biased towards maximizing economic output while disregarding the ecological effects of forestry practices. In this paper we present an approach for taking biological diversity into account in strategic forest management planning. We used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method for resource allocation and priority setting. We carried out a case study, whereby a set of management strategies was evaluated in order to identify the strategy which best fulfills the requirement of maintaining biological diversity while at the same time yielding a reasonable income from timber production. We discuss applicability of the approach in solving different forest management and conservation planning problems, as well as in assessment of ecological impacts.