15.3.2024
Doctoral thesis on nanocelluloses as barrier coatings
M.Sc. (Tech.) Rajesh Koppolu’s doctoral thesis in paper coating and converting will be put forth for public defence at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.
The thesis is entitled High-throughput Processing of Nanocelluloses into Barrier Coatings.
The public defence of the doctoral thesis takes place on Friday 22 March 2024 at 1.15 PM in Auditorium Argentum, the Aurum Building, Henrikinkatu 2, Turku. You can also follow the defence online. Dr. David Guérin, L’Oréal Packaging Science Center, France will serve as opponent and Professor Martti Toivakka, Åbo Akademi University, as custos.
Summary:
Our modern lives are heavily reliant on packaging, particularly for food, where complex multi-layered structures ensure freshness, extended shelf life, and minimized waste. However, the single-use nature of most packaging necessitates sustainable and bio-based materials, alongside designs favoring recyclability or biodegradability. This thesis explores high-throughput processing methods to leverage nanocellulose, a natural and biodegradable polymer, as a coating for effective barrier properties in packaging. The complex rheology of nanocelluloses hinders its industrial use, and therefore, this work examines their properties and develops efficient coating methods to process them into barrier coatings. By systematically studying the role of the substrate, nanocellulose additives, coating conditions, and interlayer adhesion on paperboard substrates, all coatings were conducted via a roll-to-roll process mimicking industrial conditions. In addition, multilayer coatings with a moisture barrier topcoat containing different bio-based and biodegradable polymers were also produced using traditional coating methods, and these nanocellulose-based multilayer structures showed barrier properties comparable to conventional references. This research brings nanocellulose closer to real-world application as a sustainable and high-performance barrier material for food packaging.
Rajesh Koppolu was born in 1989 in Kothagudem, India. He can be reached by phone +358 400 217 882 or email rajesh.koppolu@abo.fi.
The doctoral thesis can be read online through the Doria publication archive.
Click here for a press photo of the doctoral student.
Instructions for following the doctoral defence remotely:
To follow the defence, you need the Zoom software or the Google Chrome browser. You do not need to create a Zoom account to follow the defence. If you install the application, you participate by clicking on the meeting link, after which you should allow the link to open in the Zoom app.