Investigation and Evaluation of Super-Hydrophobic Surfaces for Use in Paper-based Liquid Packaging Materials

Super-hydrophobic surfaces are of great significance to a wide range of industrial and medical applications. This PhD thesis systematically investigates the engineering principles of applying super-hydrophobic surfaces to making paper-based liquid packaging; it clarifies the possibilities and restrictions of this potential application. This work addresses the significant research gaps in whether paper-based super-hydrophobic packaging materials is a feasible engineering concept and how to characterise super-hydrophobic papers to understand their properties as suitable materials for liquid packaging. The critical engineering requirement of the perceived super-hydrophobic paper-based liquid packaging materials is studied, identifying that super-hydrophobic papers are suitable for short-time contact applications.