Model Surfaces for Paper Fibers Prepared from Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Polycations

For tailored functionalization of cellulose based papers, the interaction between paper fibers and functional additives must be understood. Planar surfaces represent a suitable model system for studying binding additives. In this work, polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) are prepared by alternating dip-coating negatively charged derivate carboxymethyl polycation, either polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) or chitosan (CHI). The parameters varied during PEM formation concentrations (0.1–5 g/L) pH (pH = 2–6) dipping solutions. Both systems grow exponentially, revealing high mobility polyelectrolytes (PEs). pH-tunable charge density leads to PEMs with different surface topographies. Quartz crystal microbalance experiments dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) reveal pronounced viscoelastic properties PEMs. Ellipsometry atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements show that strong highly polycation PDADMAC smooth weak CHI forms higher film thicknesses tunable roughness. exhibit water uptake when exposed humid environment, PDADMAC/carboxymethyl (CMC) resulting in up 60% CHI/CMC 20%. water-stable, but swellable controllable roughness topography.