The food industry is one of the fundamental industries vital to the national economy and people’s livelihoods. Within this industry, food packaging plays a crucial role in ensuring food quality and preventing deterioration. Traditionally, plastics have been widely used as food packaging materials, but concerns over their environmental impact and potential harm to human health have led to increased research interest in environmentally friendly alternatives. Paper-based food packaging materials have gained attention due to their natural origin, environmental friendliness, and ease of processing. However, their inherent weakness in blocking water and oil has made waterproof and oil-proof modification a focus of current research.
n recent years, there has been growing research on waterproof and oil-proof modification of paper-based food packaging materials. These studies have primarily focused on several methods, including alkyl ketene dimer sizing, plastic film coating, nanocomposite materials, and polysiloxane. These methods effectively enhance the waterproof and oil-proof properties of paper packaging materials, improving their packaging performance and quality.
Despite the progress made in the waterproof and oil-proof modification of paper-based food packaging materials, several challenges remain. Firstly, some waterproof and oil-proof agents may raise safety and environmental concerns, necessitating careful selection. Secondly, current research often focuses on single-function modifiers, with limited attention to comprehensive performance. Additionally, the practical application rate of new waterproof and oil-proof additives remains low and requires further promotion and utilization.
While significant progress has been made in recent years, the waterproof and oil-proof modification of paper-based food packaging materials still faces challenges. Future research should prioritize the safety and environmental friendliness of materials, enhance comprehensive performance, and promote the market application of research findings. Only then can paper-based food packaging materials fulfill their potential in providing better protection for people’s lives and health in the field of food packaging.
