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The effect of coatings on paper sheets has been studied. For this purpose gels were prepared from unextracted and extracted bark. The gels represented dispersions of micro- and nanoparticles. The coatings were also prepared from mixtures of gels with chitosan solutions in 1% acetic acid and aqueous Na-carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) solutions. The properties – Gurley air resistance, water vapour sorption, and mechanical properties of paper sheets – were tested. For obtaining the gels, the bark was destructed by a thermocatalytic method and then dispersed in water in a ball mill. The gels contained mainly nanoparticles with an average size of about 300 nm. Paper sheets produced by the Ligatne Paper Mill (Latvia) were coated on both sides. Gurley air resistance increases with increasing thickness of the coatings and with increasing gel concentration. At a gel concentration of 10% and a coating thickness of 35 μm, air resistance increases by 57% (gel from unextracted bark) and 72% (gel from extracted bark) compared to uncoated paper sheets. The coatings from bark gels in combination with Na-CMC and chitosan solutions increase further the air resistance. The coatings at gel concentrations up to 6% elevate the burst strength and tensile strength in a dry state. The coatings from mixtures of bark gel and chitosan and Na-CMC heighten further the mechanical properties and elevate the water vapour sorption of paper sheets.

The aim of the present study was to improve the paper handsheets parameters by adding biodegradable natural polymer – chitosan. The addition of chitosan in the amount of 2-4% improved tensile strength of the handsheets by up to 20% in dry condition and by up 5 times in wet state. Addition of chitosan increases the hydrophobic properties of paper as it was revealed by contact angle and water penetration dynamic measurements.

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