Nanocellulose has been shown to be potentially very useful for a number of technical applications in the future. The key to understanding how nanocellulose will behave in different applications is to have a thorough understanding of how the structure and interactions of nanocellulose affect its function and hence its suitability for different applications. The research performed at VTT relates to the whole production chain of nanocellulose � from selection of raw materials to development of production process and modification of nanocellulose material according to the needs of various applications. Successful use of nanocellulose in different applications requires profound understanding of structural and molecular properties of nanocellulose. The most importat properties are: 1) Aspect ratio, i.e., the diameter and length of the fibrils; 2) Range of polydispersity (the preparations are usually mixtures of fibrils with different size distribution); 3) Surface chemistry, specifically how the surface has been modified by adding chemical functionalities, such as charge, hydrophobic groups, etc.; and 4) Impurities and other polymers present (nanocellulose consists seldom of only cellulose, and other compounds present may have a major impact on the properties of the preparation).  At the moment nanocellulose research at VTT can be divided into five main research areas: Soft matter � emulsions, encapsulation, stabilization of dispersions, hydrogels; Condensed matter � composites; Porous matter � filters, adsorbents, scaffolds; Thin films � barriers, supports and adhesive layers; and Use of nanocellulose in fibre-based structures.

Nano- and micro-fibrillated cellulose research at VTT

245th National Meeting (2013)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.