Cellulosic wood fibre‐dual functional (Janus) mineral filler networks

Abstract

AbstractThe incorporation of Janus silica and titanium dioxide fillers in wood fibre networks (handsheets) with 10, 20, and 40 wt% loading by filtration and layer‐by‐layer (LBL) deposition was demonstrated. The effect of filler's dual functionality on the wettability and water vapour transmission rate of handsheets loaded with the Janus fillers was investigated. Without silanization, the handsheets with silica filler are hydrophilic except when prepared by LBL and 40 wt% Janus silica filler. It was also found that silanization of the handsheets in conjunction with Janus fillers results in the formation of superhydrophobic handsheets with minimal liquid water absorption. Only the silanized handsheets prepared at 40 wt% Janus TiO2 filler loading were found to be hydrophobic. The lowest values of 231 and 237 g · m−2 · day−1 for the water vapour transmission rate was obtained for silanized handsheets with a Janus silica and titanium dioxide filler at 10 wt% loading, respectively.