Reinforcing Cellulose-Based Paper with a Dehydrogenation Polymer Binder for High-Performance Composites

The persistent accumulation of plastic waste in ecosystems poses a serious threat to both environmental sustainability and human health. This issue has created an urgent demand for biodegradable alternatives. Cellulose-based paper materials are regarded as ideal candidates to replace plastics, owing to their biodegradability, abundance, scalability, and low cost. However, the porous structure of paper and the high moisture sensitivity of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups within cellulose lead to its reduced mechanical strength. This study introduced an effective bonding strategy by utilizing acid-catalyzed dehydrogenation polymer (DHP) in combination with cellulose fibers, resulting in cellulose-based paper with high tensile strength, as well as excellent thermal stability and biodegradability. The optimal conditions were determined to be a DHP content of 20%, a hot-pressing temperature of 150 °C, and a duration of 20 min. Under these conditions, the composite paper exhibited a dry tensile strength of 50 MPa, a wet tensile strength of 21 MPa, and a contact angle of 82.0°. The results indicated that DHP formed a cross-linked network through self-condensation and physically filled the gaps between fibers, thereby enhancing interfacial bonding and structural density. This effectively inhibited water penetration and improved the overall performance of the cellulose-based paper. The biomimetic design approach, inspired by the structure of natural wood, provides insights into developing high-performance cellulose-based paper with superior strength, thermal stability, and biodegradability.