  Polymer coatings on cellulosic fibres are widely used to enhance the natural
fibre properties by improving, for example, the hydrophobicity and wet
strength. Here, we investigate the effects of a terpolymer P(S-co-MABP-co-PyMA)
coating on cotton linters and eucalyptus fibres to improve the resistance of
cellulose fibres against wetness. Coated and uncoated fibres were characterised
by using scanning electron microscopy, contact angle measurements, Raman
spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy with the objective of correlating
macroscopic properties such as the hydrophobicity of the fleece with
microscopic properties such as the coating distribution and local
nanomechanics. The scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy results
revealed the distribution of the coating on the paper fleeces and fibres.
Contact angle measurements proved the hydrophobic character of the coated
fleece, which was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy measurements that
investigated the water uptake in single fibres. The water uptake also induced a
change in the local mechanical properties, as measured by atomic force
microscopy. These results verify the basic functionality of the hydrophobic
coating on fibres and paper fleeces but call into question the homogeneity of
the coating.
