Nanocellulose in wood-

based panels: A review

Vila Real, 30 September – 1 October 2013

Electra Papadopoulou

COST FP1205: Innovative applications of

regenerated wood cellulose fibres
 Nanocellulose types
Straw, pulp,
banana,
potato,

Bacteria

Source: http://www.neno-tech-views.com/the-nanocellulose-the-new-material-appears-to-be-low-cost-and-miracle-
ecological

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Nanocellulose advantages
Nanocellulose-based materials have high strength and low weight.
The highest grades have attributes that offer great reinforcing strength
and/or optical clarity, while lower grades can offer increased strength and
improved properties at lower costs.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Reinforcement potential of NCC

Source: Ron Crotogino, The economic impact of nanocellulose, International symposium on assessing the economic impact of
nanotechnology, Washington DC, March 2012

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Composites with nanocellulose
Used as reinforcing material
A) in polymers’ matrices of
– Rubber, Resole-type phenolic resins
– Poly(vinyl alcohol), Poly(oxyethylene), Poly(lactic acid)
– Poly(vinyl chloride), polyurethane
– Polyproprolyene, polystyrene, etc
B) in wood based panels

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Reasons to use CNF in composites
Cellulose macro- and nanofibers can be used as reinforcement in composite
materials because provide enhanced
– mechanical
– thermal, and
– biodegradation properties

• However, cellulose fibers are hydrophilic in nature, so it becomes necessary

to increase their surface roughness for the development of composites with
enhanced properties (Susheel kalia et al, 2011)

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

Overview of NCC surface modifications

FITC=Fluoresce
in – 6 -
isothiocyanate

Source: Serge Rebouillat, Fernand Pla, State of the Art Manufacturing and Engineering of Nanocellulose: A Review of Available
Data and Industrial Applications, Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, 2013, 4, 165-188

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Wood based panels & CNF
Common wood based panels:
• Particleboards (PB)
• Oriented Strand Boards (OSB)
• Medium Density Fiberboards (MDF)
• Plywood (PW)
CNF
or

Common adhesives used for their production:

• Urea-Formaldehyde
• Melamine – Urea – Formaldehyde
• Phenol - Formaldehyde

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 State of the art
WO2009086141A: Wood adhesives containing reinforced additives for
structural engineering products
Publication date: 9 July 2009
Inventors: Sigun Wang, Cheng Xing
Applicant: University of Tennessee research foundation
They have patented: the use of any type of nanocellulose, nanocarbon and
nanoclay in any type of wood adhesive (UF, MUF, PF, MUPF, pMDI,
protein, epoxy etc) at various ratio for the production of various types of
panels.
Result/Conclusion
Nanomaterial and micromaterial additives improve the structural properties
of resins/adhesives and mostly the mechanical properties of the panels.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

Det går inte att v isa bilden för tillfället.

State of the art (con.)

Stefen Veigel et. Al (2012): Added CNFs in UF and MUF resin:
CNF content of 0, 1, - 3 wt% prepared by mixing an aqueous CNF suspension
with UF and MUF adhesives
Laboratory-scale particle boards and oriented strand boards (OSBs)

Result:
Particle boards prepared with UF + 1 wt% CNF showed:
• reduced thickness swelling
• better internal bond and bending strength than boards produced with pure
UF.
The reinforcing effect of CNF was even more obvious for OSB where a
significant improvement of strength properties of 16% was found.

For both, particle board and OSB, mode I fracture energy and fracture
toughness were the parameters with the greatest improvement indicating
that the adhesive bonds were markedly toughened by the CNF addition

Michael Obersriebnig et. al. (2011) concluded to the same result when added cellulose
nanofibrils to UF resin.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 State of the art (con.)

Emmanuel Atta-Obeng et al. (2013) added microcrystaline cellulose (MCC) in

PF resin at the levels of 0, 3, 6 and 10% (wt/wt).and tested their thermal and
shear strength properties.

Result:
• Viscosity increase
• Slight reduction of the curing temperature by 4°C.
• The heat of reaction was a function of cellulose loading with the maximum
heat of reaction occurring at 3% loading.
• The shear strength of the PF adhesive was increased by a factor of 1.7 with
a 10% cellulose loading.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 State of the art (con.)
Emmanuel Atta-Obeng made particleboards from both sweet gum and pine
and PF resin.
The addition of 10% nanocrystaline cellulose:
• decreased the mechanical properties,
• increased thickness swell and
• decreased spring back.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 FIBRACOM project
Within the framework of the programm: Greek – Chinese cooperation 2012 – 2014,
Greece & China will carry out the project with title:
Nanotechnology Enhanced Bio-composites from Lignocellulosic Materials
Acronym: FIBRACOM
Duration: 30 months
Starting date: 1 April 2013
Greek Partners: CHIMAR Hellas, S.A., CRES and AUTH
Chinese Partners: Institute of Bast Fiber Crops-Chinese Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, Dalian Polytechnic University, Liaoyang Yimeng Carpet Manufacturing Co.
Subject: The development of lightweight, nanotechnology enhanced bio-composites for
multiple applications. The polymers will be of phenolic nature (like phenol-
formaldehyde resin or other with phenolic chemical groups from renewable
resources) and epoxy resins. Cellulosic (nano)fibers and other nanomaterials will be
used as reinforcing materials. The lignocellulosic (nano)additives will originate from
kenaf, hemp and Juta. Two types of composites will be produced: particleboards
and epoxy resin/nanocellulose fibers composites suitable for various applications.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Production locations of nanocellulose

Source: Heli Kangas, Ulla Forsström, VTT Nanocellulose – A promising material for future packages, Helsingin Messukeskus 4.9.2013

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

 Estimated production

In: Heli Kangas, Ulla Forsström, VTT Nanocellulose – A promising material for future packages, Helsingin Messukeskus 4.9.2013

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A
In Heli Kangas, Ulla Forsström, VTT Nanocellulose – A promising material for future packages, Helsingin Messukeskus 4.9.2013
Market per application
 Bibliography
• Emmanuel Atta-Obeng (2010), Effect of microcrystaline cellulose, spices
and particlesize on mechanical and physical properties of
particleboard.Thesis, Aluburn University
• Emmanuel Atta-Obeng, Brian K. Via, Oladiran Fasina, Maria L. Auad, Wei
Jiang, (2013) Cellulose Reinforcement of Phenol Formaldehyde:
Characterization and Chemometric Elucidation
• M.Z.Rong, M. Q. Zhang, Y. Liu, G. C. Yang, andH. M. Zeng, (2001), The
effect of fiber treatment on themechanical properties of unidirectional sisal-
reinforced epoxy composites, Composites Science and Technology, vol. 61,
Article ID 10.1016/S0266-3538(01)00046-X, pp. 1437–1447.
• Stefan Veigel, Ulrich Muller, Jozef Keckes, Michael Obersriebnig, Wolfgang
Gindl-Altmutter (2011) Cellulose nanofibrils as filler for adhesives: effect on
specific fracture energy of solid wood-adhesive bonds Cellulose 18:1227–
1237
• Stefen Veigel, Jörn Rathke, Martin Weigl, Wolfgaug Gindl-Altmutter (2012),
particleboard and OSB prepared with nanocellulose - Reinforced Adhesives.
Jounal of Nanomaterials, Volume 2012.
• Susheel kalia et. Al. (2011), Cellulose – Based Bio and Nano composites: a
Review, International Journal of Polymer Science, volume 2011.

E.Papadopoulou, CHIMAR Hellas S.A

Contact Details:
Electra Papadopoulou
CHIMAR Hellas S.A.
Sofouli 88, 55131 Kalamaria Thessaloniki Greece
Email: papadopoulou@ari.gr
www.chimarhellas.com