High barriers for wood-based materials

Nature-inspired high barrier materials from wood components for wood-based materials. Objectives Scientific: Investigate how the different components in a fruit/plant cuticle contribute to very high barrier properties (wax/lipid, crosslinked polyester and polysaccharides). Why are they assembled together the whey they are? Are there synergy effects? Can we go even beyond Natures high barriers by introducing clay to the artificial cuticle“?Technical: How can we construct an “artificial” biobased “cuticle” barrier material (primarily from wood components)? How do we assemble each component to form both a very high oxygen and moisture barrier? How do we incorporate the “artificial” cuticle as a barrier layer in products like paperboard (coating options)?