Characterization and properties of nanocellulose-enhanced pulp-molded lunch boxes

Abstract Fluorine-free additives for food packaging have attracted numerous research concerns. In this paper, pulp-molded lunch boxes were prepared with bamboo pulp and bagasse pulp, and nanocellulose functional material was coated on the surface of pulp-molded lunch boxes by spin coating, in order to investigate the apparent and load-bearing properties. The results showed that compared with conventional pulp-molded lunch boxes with fluorinated oil-proof additives, the microscopic surface of the pulp-molded lunch boxes coated with nanocellulose-reinforced material is flatter and uniform, and the void ratio is significantly reduced. Also, the nanocellulose functional material can remarkably improve the deformation resistance of the paper box, and its load-bearing property for cold water, hot water, and hot meals are better than that of conventional pulp-molded lunch boxes. It’s believed that the nanocellulose functional material has the feasibility of being used in hot chain takeaway scenarios.