Today, nonwoven production is largely dependent on non-sustainable fibers, both in terms of raw material and manufacturing process. Man-made cellulosic fibers, produced in a sustainable way and having tunable properties, are therefore getting an essential role. Fibers spun from cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) have recently received enormous attention upon discovery of a method to produce fibers with exceptional mechanical properties. Particularly, CNF extracted from wood may play an important role in the transition towards more sustainable bio-based materials for nonwovens. However, some issues of fiber wet strength should be overcome for this application.
In this project, we are going to adapt the properties of fibers spun from nanocellulose for their beneficial use in nonwovens. We will investigate different routes to modify the fiber spinning process by introducing chemical cross-linking to enhance wet strength of the fibers. We will also study the influence of fiber handling and storage on long-term stability. In this case, the fibers will be stabilized using the cross-linking strategy as well. Finally, we will evaluate the potential of the developed fibers for use in a suitably chosen nonwoven prototype by means of initial qualitative sustainability assessment and evaluation by nonwoven experts. It is believed that this will allow using such fibers not only in nonwovens, but in a variety of other applications.
Participants
RISE IVF AB, Essity Hygiene and Health Aktiebolag.
Budget & time plan
The project’s total budget is 910 440 SEK and the project runs during six months – between November 2020 and April 2021.
The picture shows fibres of nano cellulose. Photo: RISE