INS13-1076
Functional paper – where tradition meets innovation
Topic
S13. Korea-Germany Polymer Symposium 2026: “Pioneering the Future of Polymeric Materials and Bridging Innovation in Sustainable Technologies”
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
10:45 - 11:10
Room 203
Session Chairs
Bastian E. RAPP
Presenter(s)
Markus Biesalski (Technical University of Darmstadt)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Paper is one of the most widely used materials in modern society. It is produced on a large scale from renewable resources, primarily wood, as well as other biogenic sources. A combination of biological origin and complete biodegradability makes paper one of the most sustainable materials in use today. Paper is valued for its remarkable combination of properties: it is lightweight yet strong, bendable and foldable, and its porous structure enables passive fluid transport without the need for pumps. In the contemporary era, the manufacturing and recycling processes of this material have been technologically optimized to a considerable extent. Beyond its classical roles in printing, packaging, and hygiene, paper has recently attracted attention in far more demanding applications, from lateral flow diagnostics and lightweight structural components to next-generation paper-based food packaging and even soft robotics.
In this presentation, recent endeavors to unlock new functionalities by tailoring the fiber–fiber and fiber–polymer interfaces in paper will be discussed. Examples progress from the utilization of functional wax–polymer coatings for precise modulation of barrier properties, to the employment of sustainable polymer cross-linking strategies for the introduction of robust wet-strength, and the implementation of spatially controlled interfacial functionalization to achieve 4D paper-based actuators that exhibit dynamic responsiveness to external stimuli. By integrating tradition and innovation, these approaches demonstrate the potential for paper to evolve from a classical commodity into a smart, circular material platform with exciting potential far beyond its established use.
In this presentation, recent endeavors to unlock new functionalities by tailoring the fiber–fiber and fiber–polymer interfaces in paper will be discussed. Examples progress from the utilization of functional wax–polymer coatings for precise modulation of barrier properties, to the employment of sustainable polymer cross-linking strategies for the introduction of robust wet-strength, and the implementation of spatially controlled interfacial functionalization to achieve 4D paper-based actuators that exhibit dynamic responsiveness to external stimuli. By integrating tradition and innovation, these approaches demonstrate the potential for paper to evolve from a classical commodity into a smart, circular material platform with exciting potential far beyond its established use.
