Preparation of an electrically conductive, flame-retardant, and superhydrophobic recycled paper

Improving the performance of recycled paper (R paper) can broaden its applicability in different fields and is conducive to saving resources. Herein, we report a simple method to prepare R paper using waste-print-paper pulp mixed with ketjenblack and ammonium polyphosphate followed by modification with polydimethylsiloxane. The R paper demonstrated good electrical conductivity of 14.83 S/m. Water contact angle (WCA) and sliding angle (SA) were used to assess the wettability of the prepared R paper. The WCA and SA of the R paper reached 152 ± 2° and 3.5°, respectively, thereby indicating excellent superhydrophobicity. Vertical flame tests and thermogravimetric analysis proved that the flame retardancy of the R paper was superior to that of the waste-print paper. These results suggested that the R paper with conductive, flame-retardant, and superhydrophobic properties can be obtained by incorporating specific fillers into waste-print paper, thereby increasing the potential for the application of R paper.