Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength

Increasing concerns regarding plastic waste and its impact on the environment have prompted a global trend to replace plastic films with fiber-based packaging solutions. Though the heat-sealing of polyolefin films provides a simple approach for realizing flexible packaging, paper does not have the n...

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Main Authors: Kai Lankinen, Mahdi Merabtene, Esa Saukkonen, Ville Leminen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North Carolina State University 2025-03-01
Series:BioResources
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Online Access:https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24268
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author Kai Lankinen
Mahdi Merabtene
Esa Saukkonen
Ville Leminen
author_facet Kai Lankinen
Mahdi Merabtene
Esa Saukkonen
Ville Leminen
author_sort Kai Lankinen
collection DOAJ
description Increasing concerns regarding plastic waste and its impact on the environment have prompted a global trend to replace plastic films with fiber-based packaging solutions. Though the heat-sealing of polyolefin films provides a simple approach for realizing flexible packaging, paper does not have the natural attributes required for such applications. Therefore, paper sealability must be achieved by other means such as coating or varnishing. This study accordingly investigated the basics of imparting heat-sealability to packaging paper using overprint varnish applied with a lab coater simulating flexographic printing. The sealing and grease resistance properties of the resulting paper were compared with those of commercially available polyethylene dispersion-coated paper and oriented polypropylene/polyethylene laminate. The results confirmed that sufficient capabilities were realized using the proposed method; though the varnished paper exhibited a lower seal strength than the reference plastic films, it exhibited adequate properties for package sealing regardless of applied temperature. These observations were subsequently discussed to inform recommendations for further investigation and development.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher North Carolina State University
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spelling doaj-art-ca5b181dbf3e48e4b8ce9cbe9aa5caad2025-08-20T02:13:48ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262025-03-01202320632232535Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing StrengthKai Lankinen0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6189-3402Mahdi Merabtene1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3811-6194Esa Saukkonen2Ville Leminen3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5854-3321Dr. Lankinen Graphic Innovations Ltd, Finland; Tampere University of Applied Sciences, Tampere, FinlandLappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Lappeenranta, FinlandUPM, Research and Development, Lappeenranta, FinlandLappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Lappeenranta, FinlandIncreasing concerns regarding plastic waste and its impact on the environment have prompted a global trend to replace plastic films with fiber-based packaging solutions. Though the heat-sealing of polyolefin films provides a simple approach for realizing flexible packaging, paper does not have the natural attributes required for such applications. Therefore, paper sealability must be achieved by other means such as coating or varnishing. This study accordingly investigated the basics of imparting heat-sealability to packaging paper using overprint varnish applied with a lab coater simulating flexographic printing. The sealing and grease resistance properties of the resulting paper were compared with those of commercially available polyethylene dispersion-coated paper and oriented polypropylene/polyethylene laminate. The results confirmed that sufficient capabilities were realized using the proposed method; though the varnished paper exhibited a lower seal strength than the reference plastic films, it exhibited adequate properties for package sealing regardless of applied temperature. These observations were subsequently discussed to inform recommendations for further investigation and development.https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24268heat-sealingvarnishflexographic printingpaperpackaging
spellingShingle Kai Lankinen
Mahdi Merabtene
Esa Saukkonen
Ville Leminen
Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
BioResources
heat-sealing
varnish
flexographic printing
paper
packaging
title Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
title_full Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
title_fullStr Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
title_full_unstemmed Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
title_short Packaging Paper with Overprint Varnish: Morphology, Grease Resistance, and Heat-sealing Strength
title_sort packaging paper with overprint varnish morphology grease resistance and heat sealing strength
topic heat-sealing
varnish
flexographic printing
paper
packaging
url https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24268
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AT villeleminen packagingpaperwithoverprintvarnishmorphologygreaseresistanceandheatsealingstrength