Acrylate and non-acrylate based chemical compositions for selectively coating fiber-based food containers

A method of manufacturing a meat tray, comprising the steps of:

• providing a wire mesh mold approximating the shape of the meat tray;
• preparing an aqueous fiber based slurry comprising at least one of old corrugated containers (OCC) and double-lined kraft (DLK) paper;
• adding an embedded moisture barrier to the slurry;
• immersing the mold in the slurry;
• drawing a vacuum across the mold within the slurry until a desired thickness of fiber particles accumulates at a surface of the mold;
• removing the accumulated particles from the mold;
• drying and pressing the accumulated particles in a press to thereby form a bowl;
• transferring the bowl from the press to a coating station;
• and
• applying a non-acrylate moisture barrier layer comprising a non-acrylate based particulate solids in an aqueous solution to a surface of the bowl at the coating station, wherein the coating station comprises a spray system and a conveyor configured to move the bowl along a direction of travel into engagement with the spray system, the spray system comprising a first nozzle configured to discharge a first predetermined spray pattern onto a bottom of the bowl, and the first predetermined spray pattern comprises a substantially vertical curtain terminating in a line at the bowl.