Novel methods to include graphene as a packaging barrier

Research Project, 2016 – 2017

Abstract in english
Novel methods to include graphene as a packaging barrier
The goal of this project is to make thin graphene barriers in packaging materials with outstanding oxygen permeability properties using low amounts of graphene.
Industrial partners Stora Enso, Tetra Pak and Perstorp are together with Chalmers University of Technology and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden among the participants of the project.

The vision of the project is to replace Al foil in packaging materials.

The making of thin graphene barriers for packing material will be achieved by orientation of graphene nanoplatelets in a thin layer of the packaging material. Induction of crystallization in between the graphene nanoplatelets will further improve the barrier properties. Novel methods to obtain the necessary orientation and compacting will be developed using foamed dispersions and extruded polymer melts.

Thin reproducible dispersion coatings with oriented graphene nanoplatelets will be achieved by making foams with controlled thickness, rheology and lamella architecture that subsequently are collapsed to a film. Pre-coating of the plastic granules with graphene Before extrusion and well-controlled flow fields in the extruder die will be used to obtain oriented and compacted graphene nanoplatelets in polymer films. The structure and oxygen permeability of the coatings and films will be evaluated and correlated to the process parameters and composition. The coatings and films will be developed interactively to improve the barrier properties and simultaneously reduce the graphene content.