The strength of a tree stem has its origin in strong fibres, which are composed of billions and billions of tiny fibrils. Such fibrils with dimensions in nano-scale are assembled naturally in a way that gives the tree the necessary mechanical properties for standing up-right and thus resisting all kind of weather conditions. Cellulose fibrils are thus a wonderful tiny material, produced naturally as the most abundant component of the plant cell wall. The diameter of a cellulose fibril is smaller than the diameter of a virus – or approximately 100 000 of a human hair – and at the same time as strong as steel!

Nanofibrils are being produced from the fibres of trees. This novel material may be composed of a wide variety of fibril sizes, having diameters from the sub-micron to the nano-level. In other words, we are moving forward from utilizing the fibres in trees per se, to disintegrating the fibres and exploiting the potential of their single structural elements. Hence, during the last three decades, nanofibrils have been in focus as a new material concept with a wide variety of possible applications.  Due to their inherent properties, these tiny structures may be utilized in e.g. food, painting, composites, paper and packaging applications.

The structure of a cellulose fibre. Inset: the surface of a film made of cellulose nanofibrils. Images: Gary Chinga-Carrasco, PFI. 

PFI research has shown several advantages using cellulose nanofibrils in several applications, e.g. improved barrier properties of nanofibril films, improved properties of oil-water emulsions and improved surface and strength properties of paper coated with a nanofibril layer. The advantages are many, the potential is enormous and our competence is available, waiting for the opportunity to perform research and move the industry forward to new levels of knowledge and development.

Contact: Kristin Syverud