Studies on adhesion between paper and low density polyethylene .1. Influence of the natural components in paper

Studies of the influence of natural paper components on the adhesion between paper and Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) have been carried out. The effect of corona treatment on paper was investigated. The chemical composition of the surface was characterized by Fourier Transform infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). The corona treatment influenced the natural paper components hemicellulose, lignin and extractives by improving the adhesion. The standard deviation of the adhesion for different paper components varies between 5 and 10 N/m. Extractives in groundwood-containing paper may lower the adhesion, but after corona treatment the adhesion increased slightly. Bleaching had no significant effect on adhesion. Adding hemicellulose to the paper had no effect on adhesion. Activation of natural paper components through extrusion coating and corona treatment may have produced reactive groups, which in turn may have caused for example hydrogen bonds and crosslinking at the interface.