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FLOW Paper published in Nature Communications (June 2014)

Publicerad 2017-10-26

Hydrodynamic alignment and assembly of nanofibrils resulting in strong cellulose filaments

Karl M. O. Håkansson, Andreas Fall, Fredrik Lundell, Shun Yu, Christina Krywka, Stephan V. Roth, Gonzalo Santoro, Mathias Kvick, Lisa Prahl-Wittberg, Lars Wågberg & L. Daniel Söderberg

Nature Communications 5:4018

Abstract: Cellulose nano-fibrils can be obtained from trees and have considerable potential as a building block for biomaterials. In order to achieve good properties of these materials, the nano structure must be controlled. Here we present a process combining hydrodynamic alignment with a dispersion-gel transition that produces homogeneous and smooth filaments from a low concentration dispersion of cellulose nano-fibrils in water. The preferential fibril orientation along the filament direction can be controlled by the process parameters. The specific ultimate strength is considerably higher than previously reported filaments made of cellulose nano-fibrils. The strength is even in line with the strongest cellulose pulp fibres extracted from wood with the same degree of fibril alignment. Successful nano-scale alignment before gelation demands a proper separation of the timescales involved. Somewhat surprisingly, the device must not be too small if this is to be achieved.

Innehållsansvarig:Ardeshir Hanifi
Tillhör: FLOW
Senast ändrad: 2017-10-26