Plasma-Deposited Organosilicon Hydrophobic Coatings on Cellulosic Materials for Wet Packaging Applications

Non-toxic organosilicon coatings with hydrophobic properties were deposited on Kraft paper films using atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge. In order to assess the applicability of the plasma-deposited coating in the food packaging industry, its stability in different liquids (i.e., food simulants) was studied. Chemical analyses reveal that the food simulants, namely, de-ionized water, acetic acid, ethanol, and heptane, do not significantly alter the chemical composition or the hydrophobicity of the coatings. Based on inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy analyses, the amount of Si released from the plasma-deposited coating is less than that typically detected in tap water. Overall, the results obtained suggest that hydrophobic plasma-deposited organosilicon coatings have great potential for use in food and wet packaging applications, especially considering their environmentally friendly character.