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Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a class of naturally produced thermoplastic polyesters requiring no chemical modification or volatile solvent to be utilized as replacement for unsustainable petroleum based plastic coatings. PHA coatings on paperboard allow single use barrier coatings to have sustainable end of life through biological degradation and allow substrates to be cost effectively recyclable. In the work outlined it is shown how to formulate an aqueous coating from PHA particles utilizing surfactants, rheology modifiers, and heterogenous nucleating agents. Application of the volatile-solvent free aqueous PHA suspension on paperboard is shown to demonstrate ability to impart superior properties such reduction in gas and liquid permeability and ability to heat seal once applied to a substrate.