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All-lignocellulose composites, meaning densified fiber or fibril materials without added binder, show interesting mechanical properties and can be eco-friendly. Composites based on hot-pressed microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) and lignocellulosic wood fiber (WF) reinforcements are compared with respect to processing, structure, mechanical properties, and eco-indicators. Also, these reinforcements are compared in hot-pressed degradable lignocellulosic crosslinked polycaprolactone (c-PCL) biocomposites based on in-situ polymerization of new caprolactone oligomers. The intermediate lignin content (≈11%) was favorable for MFLC preparation, although the cumulative energy demand was high for mechanical disintegration from unbleached softwood kraft pulp. The mechanical properties were much better for random-in-plane MFLC compared with WF composites due to lower porosity, better interfiber bonding, and smaller-scale defects. Data for strain-field development during tensile tests was in support of these findings. For c-PCL biocomposites, much higher ultimate strength was obtained for the c-PCL/MFLC composites compared with c-PCL/WF. The most important reason was the strainhardening behavior combined with higher strain to failure, since the scale of developing defects was much smaller with MFLC reinforcement., Kompositer baserade på enbart lignocellulosa, dvs pressade fiber- eller fibrillmaterial utan tillsatt bindemedel, har intressanta mekaniska egenskaper och är ofta miljövänliga material. Varmpressad mikrofibrillerad lignocellulosa (MFLC) och varmpressade träfibrer (WF) jämförs med avseende på process, struktur, mekaniska egenskaper och ekoindikatorer. De jämförs också i varmpressade nedbrytbara c-PCL-biokompositer baserade på in-situ polymerisation av nya kaprolakton-oligomerer. Ett optimum i ligninhalt (≈11%) var gynnsamt för MFLC-framställning, även om det kumulativa energibehovet var högt för mekanisk sönderdelning till MFLC från oblekt barrvedsmassa. De mekaniska egenskaperna var mycket bättre för MFLC jämfört med WF-kompositer för slumpmässig fiberorientering i planet. Orsakerna är lägre porositet, bättre bindning mellan fibrer och att storleken på materialdefekterna är små för MFLC. Data för töjningsfältsutveckling under dragförsök gav stöd för dessa förklaringar. För biokompositer baserade på c-PCL var hållfastheten mycket högre för c-PCL/MFLC-kompositer jämfört med cPCL/WF. Den viktigaste orsaken var starkt töjningshårdnande i kombination med högre töjning till brott, vilket troligen beror på att defekterna som utvecklas under mekanisk belastning av c-PCL/MFLC är mycket mindre än för c-PCL/WF, vid jämförbar töjning., QC 2022-05-17

The lack of bioactivity in three-dimensional (3D)-printing of poly-epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) scaffolds limits cell-material interactions in bone tissue engineering. This constraint can be overcome by surface-functionalization using glycosaminoglycan-like anionic polysaccharides, e.g., carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a plant-based carboxymethylated, unsulfated polysaccharide, and kappa-carrageenan, a seaweed-derived sulfated, non-carboxymethylated polysaccharide. The sulfation of CMC and carboxymethylation of kappa-carrageenan critically improve their bioactivity. However, whether sulfated carboxymethyl cellulose (SCMC) and carboxymethyl kappa-carrageenan (CM-kappa-Car) affect the osteogenic differentiation potential of pre-osteoblasts on 3D-scaffolds is still unknown. Here, we aimed to assess the effects of surface-functionalization by SCMC or CM-kappa-Car on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of 3D-printed PCL scaffolds, as well as the osteogenic response of pre-osteoblasts. MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts were seeded on 3D-printed PCL scaffolds that were functionalized by CM-kappa-Car (PCL/CM-kappa-Car) or SCMC (PCL/SCMC), cultured up to 28 days. The scaffolds' physicochemical and mechanical properties and pre-osteoblast function were assessed experimentally and by finite element (FE) modeling. We found that the surface-functionalization by SCMC and CM-kappa-Car did not change the scaffold geometry and structure but decreased the elastic modulus. Furthermore, the scaffold surface roughness and hardness increased and the scaffold became more hydrophilic. The FE modeling results implied resilience up to 2% compression strain, which was below the yield stress for all scaffolds. Surface-functionalization by SCMC decreased Runx2 and Dmp1 expression, while surface-functionalization by CM-kappa-Car increased Cox2 expression at day 1. Surface-functionalization by SCMC most strongly enhanced pre-osteoblast proliferation and collagen production, while CM-kappa-Car most, QC 20221116

Low-porosity materials based on hot-pressed wood fibers or nanocellulose fibrils (no polymer matrix) represent a new concept for eco-friendly materials with interesting mechanical properties. For the replacement of fossil-based materials, physical properties of wood fiber materials need to be improved. In addition, the carbon footprint and cumulative energy required to produce the material also needs to be reduced compared with fossil-based composites, e.g., glass fiber composites. Lignin-containing fibers and nanofibers are of high yield and special interest for development of more sustainable materials technologies. The present mini-review provides a short analysis of the potential. Different extraction routes of lignin-containing wood fibers are discussed, different processing methods, and the properties of resulting fiber materials. Comparisons are made with analogous lignin-containing nanofiber materials, where mechanical properties and eco-indicators are emphasized. Higher lignin content may promote eco-friendly attributes and improve interfiber or interfibril bonding in fiber materials, for improved mechanical performance., QC 20220420

Unbleached lignocellulosic wood fiber materials of low porosity are of great interest as eco-friendly load-bearing materials because their yield is much higher than that for "pure" wood cellulosics. The difference between comparable materials based on lignocellulose fibers or nanocellulose is investigated. The structure, surface area, mechanical properties, moisture sorption, and optical properties of films based on fibers or microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) were characterized as a function of lignin content, and the environmental impact was compared. The modulus and tensile strength of comparable fiber and MFLC films (approximate to 25% porosity) increased up to an optimum lignin content (11-17%) and then decreased at a very high lignin content. Hot-pressed MFLC films with little porosity showed excellent properties, 230-260 MPa strength, 17-20 GPa modulus, and 81 MPa wet strength. The mechanical property values of hot-pressed wood fibers with 25% porosity were also as high as 154 MPa strength and 13.2 GPa modulus, which are higher than those of comparable materials reported in the literature. Because hot-pressed lignocellulose fibers can be readily recycled and show low cumulative energy demand, they are candidates for semistructural engineering materials. MFLC is of great interest for coatings, films, adhesives, and as additives or in high-technology applications., QC 20210325

Microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) is an important industrial nanocellulose product and material component. New MFC grades can widen the materials property range and improve product tailoring. Microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) is investigated, with the hypothesis that there is an optimum in lignin content of unbleached wood pulp fibre with respect to nanofibril yield. A series of kraft fibres with falling Kappa numbers (lower lignin content) was prepared. Fibres were beaten and fibrillated into MFLC by high-pressure microfluidization. Nano-sized fractions of fibrils were separated using centrifugation. Lignin content and carbohydrate analysis, total charge, FE-SEM, TEM microscopy and suspension rheology characterization were carried out. Fibres with Kappa number 65 (11% lignin) combined high lignin content with ease of fibrillation. This confirms an optimum in nanofibril yield as a function of lignin content, and mechanisms are discussed. MFLC from these fibres contained a 40–60 wt% fraction of nano-sized fibrils with widths in the range of 2.5–70 nm. Despite the large size distribution, data for modulus and tensile strength of MFLC films with 11% lignin were as high as 14 GPa and 240 MPa. MFLC films showed improved water contact angle of 84–88°, compared to neat MFC films (< 50°). All MFLC films showed substantial optical transmittance, and the fraction of haze scattering strongly correlated with defect content in the form of coarse fibrils. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.], QC 20200429