Water Repellency of Cellulosic Fibrous Mats Impregnated with Organic Solutions Based on Recycled Polystyrene

Recycled polystyrene in combination with paraffin wax, alkyd resin, and gum rosin were used as components in formulations to investigate their water repellency when applied to cellulosic filter paper substrates. Polystyrene was used in concentration of 5, 10, 15 and 20%, alkyd resin and gum rosin of 5% each and paraffin wax of 0.5%. Totally, twenty four water repellent solutions were prepared. Water repellency was evaluated in terms of water absorption of the cellulosic fibrous mats. The relations between retention of solid substances of the formulations and grammage and water absorption of filter paper samples were also determined. The results showed that all the water repellent formulations exhibited a degree of water repellency. Water absorption decreased by increasing the polystyrene concentration in the solution and polystyrene retention by the impregnated filter paper samples. The incorporation of 0.5% paraffin wax improved the hydrophobicity of treated samples. The best of the three water repellent formulations including paraffin wax was found to be the "polystyrene + gum rosin + paraffin wax" solution followed by the "polystyrene + alkyd resin + paraffin wax" and "polystyrene + paraffin wax" solution. The inclusion of 5% gum rosin in polystyrene solutions compared to that of 0.5% paraffin wax was found more effective in almost all cases.