Chitosan derivatives (ChD) and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) show wide differences in water barrier properties when applied as single-component coating. Alkyl chitosan (Ach) increases the hydrophobicity while MFC, carboxymethyl chitosan (CCH) and quaternary chitosan (QCh) coatings increase the hydrophilicity of paper surface, these effects being clearly evidenced by the values of contact