Method for coating a hollow container comprising molded pulp

A method for providing a barrier coating on a hollow container (100) comprising molded pulp;

• said method comprising:
• a) providing a hollow container (100) comprising molded pulp, wherein said hollow container (100) comprises a main portion (101) and an upper portion (102);
• said hollow container extending along a longitudinal center line (103), wherein the longitudinal extension of said upper portion (102) corresponds to 5-30% of the maximum longitudinal extension of said hollow container (100), and wherein the longitudinal extension of said main portion (101) corresponds to 70-95% of the maximum longitudinal extension of said hollow container (100), wherein said hollow container comprises a bottom surface (104) and sidewalls (105) extending from said bottom surface (104) to an opening (106) of said hollow container;
• said sidewalls (105) and said bottom surface (104) defining an exterior surface and an interior surface (105a) of said hollow container;
• b) depositing a polymeric powder onto the interior surface (105a) of said hollow container (100) by means of a spraying device (107) capable of charging the polymeric powder prior to or during deposition of said polymeric powder, wherein at least said main portion (101) of said hollow container (100) is grounded during said polymeric powder deposition, wherein said polymeric powder deposition step b) is carried out in a molding device (108) comprising an electrically conductive material, and wherein said molding device (108) comprises at least a first (108a) and a second (108b) removable portion, wherein said first removable portion (108a) is configured to enclose said upper portion (102) of said hollow container (100) and wherein said second removable portion (108b) is configured to enclose said main portion (101) of said hollow container (100);
• c) depositing a polymeric powder onto the exterior surface of at least a portion of said upper portion (102) of said hollow container (100) by means of said spraying device (107), wherein the exterior surface of said main portion (101) is void of a barrier coating comprising polymeric powder, wherein said polymeric powder deposition step c) is performed by arranging said spraying device (107) at a distance, d1, of from 10 mm to 250 mm from said opening (106) of said container, wherein said first removable portion (108a) is removed from said molding device (108) during said polymeric powder deposition step c);
• and
• d) treating said hollow container with heat or irradiation under conditions that melt and/or cure said polymeric powder after said steps b) and c).