CelluForce, a Canada-based joint venture between Domtar and FPInnovations, will deliver a presentation about its novel nanocrystalline cellulose material and its performance-enhancing capabilities at the forthcoming BioPlastek 2012 Forum.
The BioPlastek 2012 Forum will be held at the Westin Arlington Gateway located in Arlington, Virginia from 28 to 30 March, 2012. The innovative renewable material, nanocrystalline cellulose can be obtained from trees or other types of biomass. Nanocrystalline cellulose is produced by milling and subsequent hydrolyzing of pulp materials that result in the removal of amorphous regions. This material is then isolated and concentrated to form re-dispersible, homogenous natural nanoparticles.
Nanocrystalline cellulose can be used as a superior-performance strengthening additive to resins for improving their barrier and mechanical properties. The non-toxic nanomaterial can be recycled. It can be used as a superior-performance strengthening and barrier improvement material, thanks to its large surface area and high-crystallinity. With these remarkable properties, nanocrystalline cellulose can enhance the opportunities for reinforced bioplastics in barrier packaging and in structural components and recyclable interior for the automotive market.
CelluForce successfully integrated its nanocrystalline cellulose material as an additive into thermoplastics, including biopolymers such as PHA and PLA, and polyolefins such as PE and PP. These bio-based resins demonstrate enhanced strength, light resistance, abrasion resistance, toughness, durability, and permeability resistance to gases. The company has recently wrapped up construction of its demonstration plant that has a production capacity of one ton of nanocrystalline cellulose per day. The facility has started the production. The company has also started trials to incorporate the nanomaterial into the production process of various products.
Source: http://bioplastek.com