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Mildly delignified softwood holocellulose fibers featuring native tracheid fiber cell wall structure and high hemicellulose content are prominent building blocks for wood derived fiber-based materials. However, preserving the natural alignment of long softwood fiber is challenging since top-down structure-retaining delignified softwood is unstable as extensive removal of lignin from intercellular space induces cracking and disintegration of wood structure. Here we report the use of chemical crosslinking pretreatment to improve the intercellular bonding between softwood fibers, therefore preserving the integrity of the naturally aligned softwood fibers after delignification. The crosslinked softwood veneer was delignified with peracetic acid and further densified into transparent and high-density film by thermal compression. The obtained transparent film of naturally aligned softwood holocellulose fibers showed high optical transmittance of 71 %, high haze of 85 %, strong optical anisotropy, as well as high tensile strength of 449 ± 58 MPa and high Young's modulus of 49.9 ± 5.6 GPa. This study provides a facile approach to preserve the natural alignment of softwood fibers for the fabrication of high performance holocellulose fibers-based materials., QC 20240925

The development of sustainable and renewable materials is paramount in today’s society. As the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, cellulose from cellulose-rich fibres is an excellent alternative for advanced and innovative material solutions. Nonetheless, competing with the impressive material properties and the low manufacturing costs of fossil-based plastics imposes great challenges. To increase the potential of cellulose fibres in a broader set of applications, the material properties of cellulose need to be tuned depending on the application. An in-depth study of the fibre structure and the application of different tailoring techniques is required to induce tailoring of the physical and chemical properties of the cellulose fibre materials. This thesis focuses on the structure-property relationship of fibrillar hydrogel networks as model structures for the delignified wet-fibre wall. First, a mathematical framework was developed to describe the characteristics of the swelling and mechanical behaviour of anisotropic fibrillar structures, considering the fibril aspect ratio, surface chemistry of the fibrils, and electrolyte concentration in the system. A chemical functionalisation was then introduced to the fibrillar structure, which provided the CNFs with colloidal stability and the ability to participate in free radical polymerisation with monomers and telechelic oligomers. As a result, fibrillar networks were crosslinked with flexible polymer links that provided the network with different mechanical and chemical properties. Additionally, by tailoring the molecular weight of the crosslinks, the ionic strength of the solution, and even the aspect ratio of the fibrils, the mechanical properties of the network were tuned to be either stiffer or more ductile. Finally, an innovative and more sustainable approach was developed to introduce charge and alkene functionality to the fibres. Following the lessons learned from the CNF model investigations, a polymerisation, Utvecklingen av hållbara och förnyelsebara material är avgörande i dagens samhälle. Eftersom cellulosa ifrån växtfibrer är den mest förekommande biopolymeren på jorden är den ett utmärkt alternativ för användning i avancerade och innovativa materiallösningar. Det innebär dock en enorm utmaning att konkurrera med de imponerande materialegenskaperna och låga tillverkningskostnaderna hos fossilbaserade plaster. För att utnyttja den inneboende potentialen hos cellulosafibrerna och utveckla deras egenskapsrymd för användning i vidare tillämpningar är det helt nödvändigt att modifiera cellulosans materialegenskaper för att passa till specifika slutanvändningar. Det är därför nödvändigt att ingående studera hur olika modifieringstekniker kan användas för att skräddarsy fysikaliska och kemiska egenskaper hos cellulosan på olika strukturella nivåer i de delignifierade fibrerna. Arbetet i denna avhandling har fokuserats på att klarlägga struktur-egenskapsförhållandena för cellulosa-rika fibrilstrukturer. Initialt användes fibrillära hydrogelnätverk som modell för den delignifierade våtfibreväggen. Till att börja med utvecklades ett matematiskt ramverk för att beskriva det typiska svällningsbeteendet och de mekaniska egenskaperna hos de anisotropa fibrillstrukturerna med avseende på fibrillernas längs/tvärs förhållande, ytkemi och elektrolytkoncentration i systemet. Efter detta modifierades fibrillerna på ett sådant sätt att de erhöll en god kolloidal stabilitet samtidigt som de försågs med en vinyl-funktionalitet som innebar att de kunde användas i friradikalpolymerisation med olika typer av monomerer och telecheliska oligomerer. Via denna typ av radikalpolymerisation var det möjligt att skapa fibrillnätverk med flexibla polymerkopplingar som resulterade i skräddarsydda mekaniska och kemiska egenskaper. Genom att kontrollera tvärbindningarnas molekylvikt, lösningens jonstyrka och fibrillernas längs/tvärs förhållande kunde nätverkets mekaniska egenskaper kontrolleras så att, QC 20240118Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-01-16

There is an ever-increasing demand for renewable, recyclable and biodegradable packaging solutions,from consumers, producers of goods, and producers ofpackaging materials. Closing the material loop andincreasing recyclability of fiber-based package materials isone of the keys to move forward towards a more sustainablefuture. While the recyclability rates of fiber-based packagingare high, packaging boards with high wet-strength can poseproblems due to problems with repulping. This manuscriptinvestigated the possibilities to reduce the use of polyamideepichlorohydrin resins (PAE) by supporting the processsystem with carboxy-methylated cellulose (CMC) throughmachine trials in mill scale production. The focus of theinvestigation was on the wet-strength of the board productand the repulpability value. The results given from thefull-scale trial were positive, indicating a potential in usingCMC while reducing the PAE addition. The results showedthat wet tear strength and wet tensile strength of the boardwere maintained, while higher repulpability rates weregiven, encouraging better recyclability of the board material. This will be beneficial to the environment both withlower use of non-renewable chemicals and possibilities forhigher degrees of recycling of the board products.

Hornification, a complex phenomenon occurring during drying of lignocellulosic materials because of formation of irreversible chemical bonds, remains a subject of scientific interest. This study aims to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of hornification by investigating interactions between the liquid and solid phases through a solvent exchange treatment. The treatment involved replacing water with various solvents in suspensions of never-dried cellulose samples, including alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol) capable of forming hydrogen bonds, albeit to a lesser extent than water, as well as non-alcohol solvents (acetone, ethyl acetate, toluene, heptane) that do not possess the ability to form chain of hydrogen bond, and no hydrogen bond between each other. The impact of solvents on the hornification process was evaluated using WRV measurements. Our findings reveal that water, as a solvent, plays a dominant role in the hornification process, primarily due to its excellent capability to form bridges of hydrogen bonds. In comparison, hornification with alcohols was considerably lower than with water, likely attributed to the smaller ability of alcohols to engage in such interactions. Furthermore, our results indicate a tendency for reduced hornification also when using non-hydrogen bond solvents with decreased polarity. This strengthens the hypothesis related to chains of hydrogen bonds. Additionally, the interaction between hydrophobic surfaces on cellulose through hydrophobic interactions could provide another plausible explanation.

The oxidation of cellulose to dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) is a process that has received increased interest during recent years. Herein, kinetic modeling of the reaction with sodium periodate as an oxidizing agent was performed to quantify rate-limiting steps and overall kinetics of the cellulose oxidation reaction. Considering a pseudo-first-order reaction, a general rate expression was derived to elucidate the impact of pH, periodate concentration, and temperature on the oxidation of cellulose and concurrent formation of cellulose degradation products. Experimental concentration profiles were utilized to determine the rate constants for the formation of DAC (k1), degradation constant of cellulose (k2), and degradation of DAC (k3), confirming that the oxidation follows a pseudo-first-order reaction. Notably, the increase in temperature has a more pronounced effect on k1 compared to the influence of IO4− concentration. In contrast, k2 and k3 display minimal changes in response to IO4− concentration but increase significantly with increasing temperature. The kinetic model developed may help with understanding the rate-limiting steps and overall kinetics of the cellulose oxidation reaction, providing valuable information for optimizing the process toward a faster reaction with higher yield of the target product., QC 20240227

In the pulp and paper industry, pulp testing is typically a labor-intensive process performed on hand-made laboratory sheets. Online quality control by automated image analysis and machine learning (ML) could provide a consistent, fast and cost-efficient alternative. In this study, four different supervised ML techniques—Lasso regression, support vector machine (SVM), feed-forward neural networks (FFNN), and recurrent neural networks (RNN)—were applied to fiber data obtained from fiber suspension micrographs analyzed by two separate image analysis software. With the built-in software of a commercial fiber analyzer optimized for speed, the maximum accuracy of 81% was achieved using the FFNN algorithm with Yeo–Johnson preprocessing. With an in-house algorithm adapted for ML by an extended set of particle attributes, a maximum accuracy of 96% was achieved with Lasso regression. A parameter capturing the average intensity of the particle in the micrograph, only available from the latter software, has a particularly strong predictive capability. The high accuracy and sensitivity of the ML results indicate that such a strategy could be very useful for quality control of fiber dispersions.

Hygroexpansion, CP/MAS 13C-NMR, WAXS and SAXS measurements were carried out on sheets made from four different commercial pulps of varying lignin content. Non-directional laboratory sheets were made at different press levels from the pulps following different degrees of beating. The sheets were dried both freely and with restraints. Measurements were made on sheets before and after moisture cycling to determine hygroexpansion coefficients, changes in cellulose average lateral fibril dimensions and average cellulose crystallite sizes, with the aim of understanding macroscale and nanoscale changes as the result of moisture cycling. Within the sheets consistent and statistically significant structural changes were observed on both macro and nanoscale. On the macroscale, moisture cycling consistently induced irreversible shrinkage in sheets dried with restraints, but less so in the case of sheets dried freely. The hygroexpansion coefficients were typically higher for freely dried sheets compared with sheets dried with constraints. On the nanoscale, moisture cycling consistently caused an increase in the average crystallite sizes (WAXS) and the average lateral fibril dimensions (CP/MAS 13C-NMR), though the latter occurred with poor statistical significance. These changes were interpreted as an increase in the degree of order in the cellulose fibril interior/cellulose crystallite. There were no profound differences in the nanoscale changes observed for sheets dried with restraints and for sheets dried freely. Changes in the fibre wall nanostructure were of similar magnitudes when comparing results from freely dried low grammage sheets (less abundant inter-fibre joints) with freely dried sheets of higher grammage (more abundant inter-fibre joints). No obvious correlations were found between the macroscale and nanoscale measurements. The proposed explanation for this was that the nanoscale structural changes occurred similarly throughout the entirety of the fibre wall, inde, Open access funding provided by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. The Bioeconomy Research Board is gratefully acknowledged for funding the project “Water induced changes in pulp fibre materials—the microscopic causes for hygroexpansion”. Stora Enso, Billerud, Södra and Holmen as well as representatives for Intressentföreningen Packforsk, and STFI’s intressentförening are gratefully acknowledged for helpful discussions and continuous in-kind support to the project work.

The expanding field of lignin-containing nanocellulose offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based substances in applications such as packaging, coatings, and composites. This has underscored the importance to explore the impact of raw materials due to the complexities of lignin structures and different raw fiber characteristics, which plays a significant role in determining the properties of the resultant lignin-rich cellulose materials. This study presents a detailed investigation and comparison on the production and structure-property relationships of lignin-containing microfibrillated cellulose (LMFC) fibers prepared from unbleached softwood and hardwood kraft pulps. The microfibrillation process was analyzed for both softwood and hardwood pulps, comparing the results across various stages of fibrillation. Distinguishing features of lignin structures in softwood and hardwood pulps were identified through Py-GC/MS analysis. Additionally, Digital Image Correlation was employed to investigate the varying failure patterns in LMFC films derived from different wood species. Softwood-derived LMFC films demonstrate less strain-concentrated regions and strain variation, attributed to the formation of more physical crosslinking joints by the elongated fibers. Consequently, softwood-origin LMFC films displayed superior load-sharing and enhanced tensile strength (287 MPa) compared to those derived from hardwood. Additionally, the denser lignin structures in unbleached softwood pulp further boosted the stiffness of resultant softwood-derived films. Upon recycling, LMFC films exhibited superior recovery of mechanical properties following drying, suggesting their significant potential for widespread commercial use.

Colloidal lignin particles (CLPs) have sparked various intriguing insights toward bio-polymeric materials and triggered many lignin-featured innovative applications. Here, we report a multi-solvent sequential fractionation methodology integrating green solvents of acetone, 1-butanol, and ethanol to fractionate industrial lignin for CLPs fabrication. Through a rationally designed fractionation strategy, multigrade lignin fractions with variable hydroxyl group contents, molecular weights, and high purity were obtained without altering their original chemical structures. CLPs with well-defined morphology, narrow size distribution, excellent thermal stability, and long-term colloidal stability can be obtained by rational selection of lignin fractions. We further elucidated that trace elements (S, N) were reorganized onto the near-surface area of CLPs from lignin fractions during the formation process in the form of -SO42− and -NH2. This work provides a sustainable and efficient strategy for refining industrial lignin into high-quality fractions and an in-depth insight into the CLPs formation process, holding great promise for enriching the existing libraries of colloidal materials.

The electrification and digitalization of our society has propelled the demand for energy storage solutions. High-end technologies have been developed to satisfy the requirements of demanding applications, such as electromobility and portable consumer electronics, which also increasingly find markets for less demanding applications. These markets include grid and domestic energy storage, as well as Internet of Things (IoT). However, using high-end technologies for low-end applications is a waste of resources that puts unnecessary stress on the supply lines. Thus, more low-cost cost and environmentally friendly alternative technologies are sought, among which renewable biobased materials derived from agriculture and forestry play a prominent role. The dominant chemical constituents in plants, cellulose and lignin, exhibit some intriguing electrochemical and colloidal properties. Cellulose has been found to efficiently stabilize various electronic materials, whereas lignin can be used as an electronic material itself. Lignocellulosic materials also open for papermaking as an alternative manufacturing approach. Taking the step to using papermaking methods is, however, a bit far from the technology readiness level, as the vast majority of the research on paper electrodes is based on nanocellulose. The material properties of such nanopapers are indeed extraordinary, but the lack of large-scale production methods for nanopapers is a serious challenge. To circumvent this obstacle and find a shortcut to the realization of paper electrodes, this thesis has turned to conventional papermaking techniques. Fibres are essentially different to nanofibrils by their difference in size, and the papermaking process requires careful composition of the formulations. Thus, as the research on nanopaper electrodes cannot be directly translated into conventional papermaking techniques, this calls for separate studies on fibre-based systems. This thesis is based on four separate works carrie

The purpose of this study was to investigate the atomic-level structural changes in cellulose-based materials for varying moisture content, crucial for understanding the durability and barrier properties of the material. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of cellulose microfibril bundles under wet and dry conditions were performed using the GROMACS simulation package. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) data were computed for the equilibrated 3D structures from the simulations and compared to experimental data of Tetra Pak’s paper straw material at different humidity levels. The results indicated that increased moisture content led to fibril swelling, in accordance with previous research, observable as an intensity bump in the SAXS curves. It proved more difficult to draw any conclusion regarding the change in crystal structure as the WAXS data between the simulations and experiments were inconsistent. The methodology in this thesis provides valuable insights into moisture-induced structural changes in cellulose materials, laying the groundwork for future research on improving the barrier properties of paper-based packaging.

Kvistnötter, det vill säga den del av trädet där stammen förgrenar sig ut till en kvist, är generellt oönskade vid massa- och papperstillverkning eftersom de försämrar massans kvalitet. Lignaner är en grupp extraktämnen som förekommer i stora mängder i grankvistnötter. Huvudkomponenten av lignanerna, hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), har blivit en synnerligen uppmärksammad molekyl till följd av dess starka antioxidativa egenskaper, samt positiv effekt på vissa cancertyper. Att separera kvistnötter från sållade överstora flisfraktioner från sågverk och massabruk skulle inte bara underlätta massaproduktionen, utan även möjliggöra utnyttjandet av kvistnötternas värdefulla extraktämnen. Målet med denna studie är att uppskatta mängden kvistnötter samt identifiera möjligheter att separera dem från processflöden från olika enheter inom SCA (Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget). Studien syftar även till att analysera koncentrationen av extraktivämnen, främst lignaner, i kvistnötterna samt att utvärdera utfällning av lignaner i industriell skala. Kvistnötsmaterialet separerades från den vanliga stamveden i de överstora träflisbilarna och analyserades med GC-FID. Analysen visade att kvistnötter från Tunadals sågverk hade de högsta lignanhalterna; 5,1 vikt%, medan kvistnötter från Östrands, Munksunds och Ortvikens massabruk hade betydligt lägre koncentrationer; mellan 0,4 vikt% and 1,9 vikt%. Studien visade även att lignan kan isoleras från kvistnötsextrakt som en utfällning bestående av ett komplex med lignan kristalliserat med kaliumacetat. Utifrån de uppmätta lignanhalterna, information om enheternas råvarukonsumtion, samt en rad antaganden, så uppskattades det att 500 ton lignan och 270 ton ren HMR kan utvinnas från de studerade SCA-enheterna årligen. Genom effektivt utnyttjande av biomassan kan således de oönskade kvistnötterna förvandlas till värdefulla och användbara resurser., Branch knots, i.e. the branch bases inside tree stems, are generally unwanted in pulp and paper manufacturing as they deteriorate the pulp quality. Lignans are a group of extractives particularly abundant in spruce knots. The major lignan, hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), has become a compound of interest due to its advantageous health effects, including antioxidant and antitumor effects. Separating branch knots from screened oversized chip fractions of wood processing units would not only facilitate pulp production, it would also enable the utilization of valuable bioactive extractives present in the knots. The goal of this study is to estimate the amount of knots and identify the possibility of separating them from the process flows of different units within SCA (Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget). The study also aims to analyze the concentration of extractives, mainly lignans, in the knots and evaluate the precipitation of lignans on an industrial scale. Knotwood and stemwood in oversized wood chips were separated and analyzed with GC-FID. The analysis revealed that spruce knots from Tunadal sawmill had the highest lignan concentrations; 5,1 wt%. In contrast, knots from the mills of Östrand, Munksund and Ortviken had significantly lower amounts; between 0,4 wt% and 1,9 wt%. Additionally, it was shown that lignan can be isolated from knotwood extracts as a powder precipitate, consisting of a complex with lignan, mainly HMR, co-crystallized with potassium acetate. Based on the lignan concentrations, raw material consumption, and a series of assumptions based on earlier research, it was estimated that 500 tons of lignans and 270 tons of pure HMR can be obtained from the four studied SCA units annually after knot separation and extraction. Thus, through biomass utilization, the unwanted knots can turn into valuable and usable resources.

Med den ökande trenden av process slutning inom massabruken, så har det indikerats att återvinningen av tvättvätska från de olika tvättsteg troligen resulterar i negativa effekter. Närvaron av olika komponenter kan påverka upplösningen av lignin genom att främja dess återdeponering på massan, och därmed påverka senare steg inom bruket. Denna studie fokuserade på effekten av tvättvätskes sammansättningen, pH och magnesiumjoners innehållet på ligninåterfästningen till fibrerna under brunmassatvätt. Projektets syfte var att finna nya relevanta insikter för dagens verksamheter. För den experimentella proceduren blandades massa- och vätskaprover erhållna från ett barrveds-sulfatmassabruk, relevanta lösningsmodifikationer genomfördes, och dessa placerades i ett vattenbad vid 90 °C. Därefter tvättades och separerades den resulterande blandningen. Kappatal och ISO-ljusstyrka användes för massakaraktärisering, samt UV-VISspektroskopi för tvättvätskor. En ytterligare procedur med alkalisk urlakning utfördes på massan för att identifiera den relativt svaga liginbindningen. Resultaten indikerade att högre ligninhalt och konduktivitet, lägre pH och högre MgSO4 koncentration i tvättvätskor ökar lignininnehållet i massan. Under proceduren identifierades en möjlig konkurrens mellan borttagningen av lignin från fibrerna och återfällningen. Genom att uföra studier på olika bruksvätskor, så påverkades flera variabler systemet samtidigt, vilket förhindrade identifikationen av den dominerande variabeln som potentiellt kunde justeras för att minska återdeponeringen. Det observerades dock att en tillsatts av NaOH i tvättvätskor kunde reducera lignininnehållet i massan, medans däremot en ökning av MgSO4 kunde ha negativa effekter., With the growing tendency of process closure within pulp mills, recycling liquors into different washing stages was observed to result in likely negative effects. The presence of different components may affect lignin dissolution, by promoting its redeposition onto pulp therefore affecting later stages in the mill. The present study focused on the effect of washing liquor composition, pH, and magnesium ions content on lignin reattachment to fibres during brown stock washing. This project’s motivation was to provide new insights relevant for today’s operations. For the experimental procedure, pulp and liquor samples obtained from a softwood kraft pulp mill were mixed, relevant solution modifications were performed, and these were set inside a water bath at 90 °C. Then, the resulting mixture was washed and separated. Kappa number and ISO brightness were employed for pulp characterization, and UV-VIS spectroscopy for washing liquors. An additional procedure of alkaline leaching was performed on pulp to identify relatively weak lignin attachment. Obtained results indicated that higher lignin content and conductivity, lower pH and higher MgSO4 concentration in washing liquors increase the lignin content in pulp. A competition between lignin removal from fibres and reattachment was identified to be possibly occurring during the procedure. By performing studies on different mill liquors, multiple variables affected the system simultaneously, which hinders the identification of the dominant variable to be potentially adjusted for reducing the redeposition. However, it was seen that adding NaOH in washing liquors could reduce lignin content in the pulp, whereas an increase in MgSO4 could present negative effects.

Användningen av pappersförpackningar ökar drastiskt världen över, vilket gör förmågan att återvinna dessa material mycket viktig. I detta examensarbete testades återvinningen av en ny biobaserad förpackningslösning, där papper är en del av barriären och barriärerna appliceras på utsidan av förpackningen. För att bedöma återvinningsbarheten testades materialen med olika barriärer: baspapper 1, baspapper 1 med vattenbarriär, baspapper 1 med syrebarriär, baspapper 1 med både vatten- och syrebarriärer samt ett tätskikt, samt baspapper 2 med samma barriärer, men inklusive ett extra material bestående av baspapper 2 med vatten- och syrebarriärer utan förseglings skikt. Alla material slogs upp enligt första steget i CEPI-metoden d.v.s. med 30 000 varv (NoR) och 40 °C, justeringar av dessa parametrar gjordes vid den utökade studien. Efter uppslagning silades materialen och utbytet beräknades. Det observerades att baspapper 1 med eller utan barriärer inte uppnådde det 80% utbyte som krävs enligt CEPI -metoden. Trots justeringar av parametrarna nådde utbytet aldrig 80%, så fokus skiftade till prov med baspapper 2, vilka konsekvent gav ett utbyte över 80%. Baspapper 2 ensam uppnådde ett utbyte på 85%, medan baspapper 2 med barriärer nådde cirka 100%. Den kompletta CEPI-metoden, med alla dess komponenter, dvs även vidhäftningstest och test för visuella orenheter tillämpades på två material: baspapper 2 med vatten- och syrebarriärer, samt baspapper 2 med vatten- och syrebarriärer och försegligsskikt. Vidhäftningstestet och bedömningen av visuella föroreningar var godkänt för båda materialen d.v.s. ingen betydande vidhäftning eller visuella föroreningar i form av polymer- eller fiberklumpar noterades. Fibertester visade skillnader mellan baspapper 2 ensam och baspapper 2 med barriärer. Fibrerna i baspapper 2 var längre, bredare och rakare än i materialen med barriär. Den kompletta CEPI-metoden, med alla dess komponenter, tillämpades på två material: baspapper 2 med vatten- och, recycle these materials crucial. In this thesis, the recyclability of a new bio-based packaging solution is tested, where paper is part of the barrier, and the barriers are applied on the outside of the packaging. To assess recyclability, two different base papers in combination with oxygen and/or water barriers were tested: base paper 1, base paper 1 with a water barrier, base paper 1 with an oxygen barrier, base paper 1 with both water and oxygen barriers plus a sealing layer, and base paper 2 with the same combinations as base paper 1, but also with water and oxygen barriers without a sealing layer. All materials were subjected to the first step in the CEPI-method i.e. pulped using 30,000 revolutions (NoR) at 40 °C, with adjustments to these parameters in some extended studies. After pulping, the materials were screened, and the yield was calculated. It was observed that base paper 1 with or without the barriers did not achieve the 80% yield required for acceptable recyclability. Despite adjusting the NoR and/or temperature, the yield never reached 80%, so the focus shifted to base paper 2, which consistently yielded above 80%. Base paper 2 alone achieved an 85% yield, while base paper 2 with other barriers reached approximately 100%. The complete CEPI method, with all its components, sheet forming, adhesion test and visual impurity assessments, was applied to two materials: base paper 2 with water and oxygen barriers, and base paper 2 with water and oxygen barriers plus a sealing layer. Adhesion tests and visual impurity assessments showed low to no adhesion for both materials and no significant visual impurities in the form of polymer or fiber clumps. Fiber tests revealed differences between base paper 2 alone and base paper 2 with barrier coating. The fibers from base paper 2 alone were longer, wider, and straighter than those from the coated paper. Tensile tests were conducted on base paper 2 with water and oxygen barriers, both before and after pulping, co

Cellulose Nano Fibrils (CNFs) can be extracted from wood and other plants. These CNFs are expected to play a large roll in future materials owing to their interesting properties and biobased nature. In this project, dewatering of gels made from CNF by non-confined mechanical pressing has been studied. A CNF suspension was gelled by the addition of HCl at pH 2 to form gel cakes and then pressed mechanically. The goal was to find the pressure limits of the gel cakes for different starting concentrations, in weight percentage [wt%], of CNF to optimize the pressure used when dewatering CNF gels. The non-confined pressing was achieved via the useof a Zwick/Roell Torsion multi-axis testing system. Gel cakes were pressed until a pressing equilibrium was reached. Equilibrium was reached when compression was less than 0.01 mm per 100 seconds. Gel cakes were frozen with liquid N2, freeze-dried, and analysed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results observed from the pressing data showed that gel cakes with higher CNF starting concentrations could survive higher pressures. Using the highest pressure available, at the pressure limit, yielded both the shortest run time and the highest dryness content. SEM imaging showed that the compression of the gel cakes starts at the surfaces and continuous inwards through the bulk. The mechanical pressure creates sheets of CNF both vertically and horizontally. By plotting the starting concentrations vs applied pressure a limit map with pressure regions could be created. From the limit map further optimization can be achieved to shorten the dewatering process of the CNF gels.

Massatvätt är ett viktigt steg i kraft-processen, då kokkemikalierna kan återvinnas och återanvändas i processen, vilket minimerar belastningen på miljön. Det är ett viktigt steg innan blekning av massan, då en låg kemisk syre-förbrukning (COD) är viktigt för att minska förbrukning av blekningskemikalier. Dessutom kan massatvätt även eliminera andra oönskade material, såsom metaller eller extraktivämnen. Syftet med studien var att utvärdera av tvätt-effektivitet av industriell massatvätt. Målen var att jämföra industriell tvättning med extensiv tvättning, att undersöka kvaliteten av tvättvätskor med analystekniker och att undersöka befintliga metoder för att beräkna tvätt-effektivitet. Den experimentella fasen var indelad i provtvättning och tvätt-serier, utförda med olika tvättvätskor, uppehållstider och industriell och extensiv utspädningsfaktor. Provtvättningen gav resultat som möjliggjorde det att utveckla tvätt-metoden. Resultaten för tvätt-serien visade att den extensiva utspädningsfaktorn generellt gav bättre resultat och en mer effektiv tvätt, och att en tvättvätska med en temperatur på 80°C generellt gav bättre resultat. Ljusheten påverkades inte av utspädningsfaktorn och kappanalysen visade en väldigt liten skillnad jämfört med originalmassan. Utvärderingen av befintliga metoder för att beräkna tvätt-effektivitet indikerade att alla undersökta metoder kunde ge felaktiga resultat, men beräkningarna tillsammans med andra metoder såsom COD, konduktivitet och med flera borde ge industrin en god indikation på tvätt-effektiviteten, Pulp washing is an important step in the kraft process, as it allows for the cooking chemicals to be recovered and reused in the process, which also minimizes the environmental load to the subsequent stages. It is also important before the bleaching plant, as a low chemical oxygen demand (COD) carry-over is important to minimize the consumption of bleaching chemicals. Furthermore, washing can also remove other unwanted materials, such as metals or wood extractives. The aim of the study was to assess washing efficiency of industrial washing. The objectives were to compare industrial washing with extensive washing, to investigate the quality of wash liquors using analytical techniques and to examine existing methods for calculating washing efficiency. The experimental phase was divided into trial washing and washing series, conducted with different wash liquors, residence times and dilution factors (DF). The trial washing yielded results that allowed for the washing methodology to be improved. The results from the washing series indicated the extensive DF in general gave better results and provided a more efficient washing, and that a wash liquor of 80°C gave better results. Brightness was not affected by the dilution factor and kappa number analysis showed that there was a very slight difference compared to the original pulp. The evaluation of existing methods for calculating washing efficiency indicated that all investigated methods could give inaccurate results, but that the calculations together with other methods such as COD and conductivity should give the industry a good indication of the washing efficiency.

Den vanligaste biopolymeren på jorden är cellulosa och det är ett viktigt material i utvecklingen mot ett hållbart samhälle. Cellulosan och dess egenskaper kan modifieras genom kemiska reaktioner. Reaktiviteten hos cellulosans OH-grupper är låg på grund av en tät kristallstruktur, men kan förbättras genom t.ex. svällning eller upplösning följt av utfällning. I det här projeket kommer cellulosa från tre källor, microkristallin cellulose (Avicel), lövedsmassa (björk och asp) och barrvedsmassa (tall och gran) att lösas upp i natriumhydroxid och sedan fällas ut med två olika syror och ett organiskt lösningsmedel. Syrorna som användes var ättiksyra och svavelsyra och det organiska lösningsmedlet var etanol. Därefter jämfördes utbytet av den utfällda cellulosan. Upplösning av Avicel 2.5 viktprocent gjordes i natriumhydroxid-lösning (10%) vid 5 oC och fälldes ut med de tre fällningsmedlen för att bestämma vilket som gav högst utbyte. Ättiksyra gav de bästa resultaten och användes i följande experiment på massa. Massornas löslighet var låg och den olösta massan var tvungen att separeras genom centrifugering innan utfällning av lösningen kunde göras. Hydrolys av massorna utfördes för att öka lösligheten och utfällningsutbytet. Upplösning av Avicel i kall natriumhydroxid och utfällning var framgångsrik. Utbytet vid utfällning med syror var högt. Det fanns ingen topp för maximalt utbyte när syrorna användes som antilösningsmedel, men etanol hade ett maximalt utbyte men lägre än för syrorna. Resultaten med massa var inte lika bra som för Avicel. De separerade olösta delarna var stora för båda massorna, men HW hade större del olöst material. Utbytet av fällning var lågt eftersom det fanns mindre cellulosa upplöst som kunde fällas ut. Hydrolysen av HW och SW var framgångsrik. Detta gjorde det möjligt att lösa upp och fälla ut mer cellulosa från massan., Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth and is an important material in developing a sustainable society. The properties of cellulose can be modified by chemical treatment or reactions. The reactivity is fairly low in crystalline cellulose but can be increased if the dense crystal structure is disrupted by e.g. swelling or dissolution followed by precipitation. Dissolution of cellulose is difficult and this project aims to dissolve cellulose from three sources (Avicel and two sulfate pulps). One of the pulps had a tiny fraction of softwood and mostly birch and aspen, hardwood pulp (HW). The other of the pulps was made of pine and spruce, softwood pulp (SW). The raw materials were dissolved in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and then precipitated with two acids and an anti-solvent (acetic acid (HOAc), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), or ethanol (EtOH)). The yields of the precipitated products were compared. Avicel 2.5 wt% was dissolved in NaOH solution (10%) at 5 oC and precipitated with the two acids and EtOH to determine the highest yield. HOAc gave the best results and was used in the following experiments on pulp. The solubility of pulps was low and the undissolved pulp had to be separated by centrifugation before precipitation of the solution. Hydrolyzation of the pulps was performed to increase the solubility and the precipitation yield. Dissolution of Avicel in cold NaOH and precipitation was successful. The yield at precipitation with acids was high. There was no peak of maximal yield when the acids were used to precipitate, but EtOH had a maximal yield but lower than for the acids. The results with pulp were not as good as for Avicel. The separated undissolved parts were big for both pulps, but HW was the worst. The yield of precipitation was low as there was less cellulose dissolved that could be precipitated. The hydrolysis of HW and SW was successful. This made it possible to dissolve and precipitate more cellulose from the pulp.

Flexographic packaging printing on paperboard is a simple yet complicated process. The working principle of flexographic printing is simple to understand, especially if one has done potato printing as a child. A raised pattern is cut out of half a potato, dipped in paint and pressed to a paper. The same basic principle is true for industry scale printing too. A raised pattern on a soft polymeric print plate is covered in ink. The ink is transferred by bringing the surfaces together with force. Unlike the kitchen-table version, the print speed can be in the scale of 600 m/min. And the print plate can carry detailed patterns or text that have to be rendered visually attractive and legible. In the present work the material considered in a printing context is mainly commercial liquid packaging paperboard. The type of paperboard one would find in e.g. a milk carton. The thesis explores a few aspects that affect the ink transfer in a print nip. How fast the paperboard is compressed, what happens with a non-smooth surface and how the pressure profile in the nip affects the print. The compression of the paperboard in a print nip is many times faster than any standard method for measuring the compressive properties of paperboard. Paper and paperboard are known to be rate-dependent materials, they creep under long-time loads. Information on the material behavior under rapid compression has, however, been lacking. The present work therefore investigates what happens when the paperboard is compressed at the rate in a print nip. The main effect is seen in the stiffening of the coating layer. A well-known way to improve the ink transfer is to increase the impression. The impression is increased by decreasing the distance between the cylinders in the print press. However, there are limits to how far increasing the impression is possible or still makes an improvement. When printing on sensitive materials and increased impression could lead to damage. The wear on the print plates is, Flexografisk tryckning av vätskekartong är en process som både är förrädiskt enkel och enormt komplicerad. Tryckprincipen är enkel att förstå, de flesta har säkert gjort potatistryck som små. Skurit ut ett upphöjt mönster i en halv potatis, doppat i färg och tryckt på ett papper. Samma princip gäller egentligen även i industriskala. Ett upphöjt mönster på en mjuk polymerplåt täcks med färg. Färgen förs över till det man vill trycka på genom att föra ihop ytorna med kraft. Till skillnad från hemma vid köksbordet sker färgöverföringen med en hastighet som kan ligga på 600 m/min och med finskaliga mönster och text som ska återges både visuellt tilltalande och läsligt. Materialet som undersöks i det här arbetet är huvudsakligen kommersiell vätskekartong. Den sortens kartong som ofta återfinns omslutande mjölk eller krossade tomater. I den här avhandlingen utforskas ett par olika aspekter som påverkar hur väl färgöverföringen sker i ett trycknyp. Hur snabbt kartongen komprimeras, vad som händer med en yta som inte är slät och hur tryckpulsen påverkar färgöverföringen. Kompressionen i ett trycknyp går många gånger snabbare än någon standardmetod för att mäta kompressionsstyvheten i kartong. Papper och kartong är tidsberoende material, de kryper. Dvs, när de utsätts för tryck under lång tid så mjuknar de. Här undersöks därför vad som händer när man går åt andra hållet och kompressionshastigheten ökar. Styvheten i kartongen när den komprimeras med hastigheten i ett trycknyp undersöktes. Framför allt visade det sig att bestrykningsskiktets styvhet påverkades av höghastighets-kompressionen. Ett välkänt sätt att förbättra färgöverföringen är att trycka hårdare. Det finns däremot begränsningar som gör att det inte är möjligt eller att det inte förbättrar att trycka hårdare. Sker tryckningen på ett känsligt material kan en hårdare intryckning skada materialet. Det sliter även på tryckplåtarna. I partier som utgörs av rasterpunkter kommer de att deformeras av det högre trycket o, QC 240830

Thermo-hydrolytic disintegration of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is a promising method for recovering fibres. This process, however, may affect the geometry and size distribution of the applied fibres initially obtained by thermomechanical pulping (TMP), and thus, the properties of MDF produced thereof. Optical methods based on image acquisition are increasingly common for geometrical characterisation to assess fibre quality. In this study, we analysed the size distribution of recovered fibres (RF) obtained by thermo-hydrolytic disintegration of urea–formaldehyde-bonded waste MDF and subsequent hammer-milling by using three optical fibre analysers, FibreShape Pro, QICPIC and Valmet FS5, while comparing them to virgin fibres (VF). The analysers use different evaluation methods and therefore gave different absolute values. Thus, size distributions could not be directly compared. Nevertheless, the results provided an indication of the changes that occurred during the manufacturing and recycling process. The RF displayed a similar fibre geometry to the VF, in spite of process-related shortening. Mean fibre length and length-based distribution of the VF were always greater than those of the RF, while fibre width of the hammer-milled RF was slightly greater than that of the VF. The analysers, however, provided substantially different results, especially between FibreShape Pro and QICPIC, although the general tendencies observed for the process-related changes were consistent. It can be concluded that the thermo-hydrolytic disintegration applied to the UF-bonded MDF did not cause any substantial changes in fibre geometry (i.e. fibre shortening). All fibre analysers are capable of detecting these changes, but the absolute values provided can vary widely between the instruments., Bibliografiskt granskad

This study aimed to develop an innovative recycling method for end-of-life polycotton textiles, eliminating the need for component separation. The use of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][Ac]) as an ionic liquid solvent facilitated the dissolution of cotton, enabling the creation of a spinning dope containing cellulose and polyester fibers. Successful spinning of bicomponent fibers ensued, followed by comprehensive fiber evaluation. The dissolution of cotton was achieved with [EMIM][Ac], and spinning trials were conducted to devise a suitable method for regenerated cellulose. Tensile tests on the produced cellulosic fibers clearly demonstrated an increase in tensile strength with higher cellulose concentration. The introduction of polyester fibers to the spinning dope, comprising [EMIM][Ac] and cotton, posed challenges to the entire spinning process. Tensile tests on the resulting bicomponent fibers revealed a decrease in tensile strength compared to pure regenerated cellulose fibers. This reduction was attributed to increased voids and irregular polyester fiber distribution, corroborated by microscopy images and a wicking test. It was concluded that the quantity and length of polyester fibers significantly influenced the tensile strength of the bicomponent fibers, with lower concentrations and shorter fibers resulting in higher strength.

Pulp and paper manufacturing ranks as one of the most water and energy-intensive sectors globally, invariablyleading to significant environmental pollution e.g. issues related to air pollution and waste disposal. Also, asglobal competition intensifies, prices of forest products are expected to keep decreasing. To ensure their viability,traditional producers must augment their revenue streams by diversifying into the production of bioenergy andbiomaterials, alongside traditional wood, pulp, and paper products. A feasible solution is the integrated productsbiorefineries which provide a distinctive chance to pulp and paper industry to enhance revenues as well asreduce their environmental impact. Since pulp and paper stands as the predominant industry in Sweden, thisreview article explores the emerging biorefinery process options and main technological pathways beingdeveloped within Swedish pulp and paper mills. It also delves into the significant challenges that are beingencountered in this evolving landscape and what possibilities lie ahead for responsible and sustainable pulp andpaper operations.

In this work, we present an alternative approach to cellulose nanofibril film (CNF) production, taking inspiration from the wet spinning of fibers to wet spin films. During the spinning process, a CNF suspension is injected into a coagulation bath, where the partially aligned CNF network is locked. The CNF alignment of the dry films is then detected by wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). The comparison between the ultimate strengths and strengths at breaks of the films produced with different process parameters, including the suspension injection rate, bath pH, and bath flow rate, indicated no significant change in mechanical properties, suggesting a reliable and constant outcome for large-scale film fabrication. Furthermore, the produced films demonstrated high total light transmittance of 93 % at the wavelength of 550 nm, making them suitable for optoelectronic applications. Polarized optical microscopy revealed that even a low degree of CNF alignment can lead to anisotropic optical properties. Moreover, an anisotropic response to humidity was observed, in which the films preferentially bend in the perpendicular direction of the CNF orientation, thus opening a way for humidity-driven actuators., This work was financially supported and part of the Academy of Finland's Flagship Program under Projects No. 318890 and 318891 (Competence Center for Materials Bioeconomy, FinnCERES). BioEconomy and RaMi infrastructures were employed in this work. Karl Håkansson kindly acknowledge the financial support from the Nils and Dorthi Troedsson Research fund. T.A. acknowledges the Chair in Sustainable Materials at EPFL, co-funded by BASF, Logitech, Nestlé, and SIG. Dr. Hoang M. Nguyen is acknowledged for his help in acquiring the AFM images.

Climate change mitigation by increased paper recycling can alleviate the two-sided pressure on the Swedish forest sector: supplying growing demands for wood-based products and increasing the forest carbon sink. This study assesses two scenarios for making use of a reduced demand for primary pulp resulting from an increased paper recycling rate in Sweden, from the present 72% to 78%. A Conservation scenario uses the saved primary pulp to reduce pulplog harvests so as to increase the forest carbon sink concomitant with constant overall wood product supply. In contrast, a Substitution scenario uses the saved primary pulp to produce man-made cellulosic fibers (MMCF) from dissolving pulp replacing cotton fiber, implying increased overall wood product supply. Our results suggest that utilizing efficiency gains in paper recycling to reduce pulplog harvests is better from a climate change mitigation perspective than producing additional MMCF to substitute cotton fiber. This conclusion holds even when assuming the use of by-products from dissolving pulp making and an indirect increase in MMCF availability. Hence, unless joint improvements across the value chain materialize, the best climate change mitigation option from increased paper recycling in Sweden would seemingly be to reduce fellings rather than producing additional MMCF.

Kraft pulping of wood is based on efficient depolymerization and solubilization of lignin, while cellulose is relatively undamaged. Non-cellulose cell wall polysaccharides are however in some cases heavily degraded, especially pectin and to a lesser degree also glucomannan while, xylan is relatively stable. In this mini-review, the most important reactions in lignin and polysaccharide degradation in kraft pulping are described, both the technically favorable and the problematic reactions, and the chemical background to discuss the advantages and drawbacks of the process. An attempt to put the different reactions in the perspective of the goals of the pulping process is made and a special focus is on the development of color in the pulp fiber during the kraft pulping.

Understanding how the solvent structure affects the stability of the dissolved state and the following precipitation is important for designing future dissolution-coagulation systems for cellulose processing. In this study, two morpholinium hydroxides with different alkyl chain lengths, namely N,N-dimethylmorpholinium hydroxide (NDMMOH(aq)) and N‑butyl‑N-methyl morpholinium hydroxide (BMMorOH(aq)), were studied and compared with the previously thoroughly investigated cellulose solvent benzyltriemethylammonium hydroxide (Triton B(aq)) which is well-known for its superior ability to stabilize the dissolved state. Cellulose solutions in each solvent were characterized by NMR, flow and frequency sweeps, while cellulose coagulation by CO2(g) was followed by in situ FTIR, pH and temperature measurements. The coagulated systems were characterized by CP/MAS 13C NMR, flow, and frequency sweep measurements. Complementary molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were performed to gain a deeper insight into the observed gelation behavior. The intrinsic viscosity indicated more extended cellulose chains in the solvents with more hydrophobic moieties (Triton B and BMMorOH). Even though the course of coagulation did not show any significant differences during monitoring, both the properties of the obtained gels and the MD simulations indicated differences in formation and properties of the coagulated materials that could be related both to the choice of solvent and coagulant., The Knut and Allice Wallenberg Foundation is gratefully acknowledged for financial support within Wallenberg Wood Science Center and the Swedish NMR Centre is acknowledged for providing spectrometer time.

Nanocellulose papers offer high tensile strength and modulus but suffer from drawbacks such as their brittle nature. We show that mercerisation of cellulose nanopapers in strong alkaline media for 2 min to 24 h results in the (partial) transformation of native cellulose I into the more ductile cellulose II allomorph. The strain to failure of mercerised nanopapers tripled compared to the original nanopapers while retaining their tensile strength in excess of 100 MPa at the expense of a slight drop in modulus resulting in a significant increase in toughness (total work of fracture). An additional advantage of mercerisation is a reduction in porosity of the nanopapers and increased transparency., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-04-05 (signyg);Funder: Institute of Materials Chemistry (371300);Full text license: CC BY

Expanding our understanding of how cellulose fibers and fibrils interact with water and its effect on their inherent properties is needed to optimize their utilization in the making of novel bio-based materials, but also useful in more traditional products (pulp, paper, and packaging). The overall objective of the work in this thesis was to deepen the understanding of drying-induced structural changes and cellulose-water interactions using cellulosic model materials. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were employed as they present a distinct advantage with their defined geometry and controlled surface chemistry compared to macroscopic cellulose fibers. The first part considers the fundamental interactions of CNFs in contact with water and by water removal, and is devoted to identifying the molecular mechanisms behind the process known as hornification. This was done by studying the exposure of CNF sheets to different heat treatments to establish a connection between their reswelling properties, chemical and structural characteristics, and mechanical behavior. The findings indicate that hornification is governed by non-covalent interactions and that the diffusion of water back into a hornified CNF network is kinetically limited. Furthermore, the influence of fibril aspect ratio and chemical functionality on the mechanical properties of wet fibrillar networks was studied. Fibrils were prepared from fibers with different hemicellulose content. It was found that longer fibrils formed stiffer and more ductile materials, owing to a longer-range and more uniform distribution of stress transfer. Additionally, high aspect ratio fibrils form networks capable of holding larger amounts of water. It was also possible to elucidate the influence of aspect ratio on the network formation, where long and short fibrils form networks with different topologies. These results were integrated into a mechanical network model to present an improved elastoplastic description of the network propert, Att utvidga vår förståelse för hur cellulosafibrer och fibriller interagerar med vatten och dess effekt på deras inneboende egenskaper är nödvändigt för att optimera deras användning vid tillverkning av nya biobaserade material, men även i traditionella produkter (massa, papper och förpackningar). Det övergripande målet med arbetet i denna avhandling var att fördjupa förståelsen för strukturella förändringar orsakade av torkning och cellulosa-vatten interaktioner med hjälp av cellulosabaserade modellmaterial. Cellulosa nanofibriller (CNFs) användes då de har en fördel med sin definierade geometri och kontrollerade ytkemi i jämförelse med makroskopiska cellulosafibrer. Den första delen avhandlar de grundläggande interaktionerna mellan CNFs i kontakt med vatten och efter vattenborttagning, och ägnas åt att identifiera de molekylära mekanismerna bakom processen som kallas hornifiering. Detta gjordes genom att studera CNF-ark som utsatts för olika värmebehandlingar för att fastställa en koppling mellan deras svällningsegenskaper, kemiska och strukturella egenskaper samt mekaniska beteende. Resultaten indikerar att förhorning styrs av icke-kovalenta interaktioner och att diffusionen av vatten tillbaka in i ett förhornat CNF-nätverk är kinetiskt begränsad. Sedan studerades inflytandet av fibrillernas längd-bredd förhållande och kemisk funktionalitet på de mekaniska egenskaperna hos våta fibrillnätverk. Fibriller framställdes från fibrer med olika hemicellulosahalt. Resultaten visade att längre fibriller bildade styvare och mer töjbara material, tack vare en längre och mer jämn fördelning av belastningsöverföring. Dessutom bildar fibriller med högt längd-bredd förhållande nätverk som kan hålla större mängder vatten. Det var också möjligt att förklara inflytandet av längd-bredd förhållande på nätverksbildningen, där långa och korta fibriller bildar nätverk med olika topologier. Dessa resultat integrerades i en mekanisk nätverksmodell för att presentera en förbättrad elasto, QC 20240508Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-05-08

Long, slender cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are unique with their high axial modulus, small diameter, high flexibility, and the possibility of chemical tailoring of, among other things, their surface charge density. The objective of this work has been to elucidate how the hydrogel network properties and how their related deformation mechanisms depend on CNF properties, concentration, and chemical environment. In addition, the influence of CNF characteristics on the formation of the structure and properties of isotropic hydrogels, anisotropic hydrogels, and aerogels has been studied. This was done by combining theoretical models describing the CNF network's topology and mechanics with high-resolution experiments to validate the theoretical models. Furthermore, the properties of the fibrils have been characterized in detail and linked to the material properties of materials formed from the fibrils. Finally, the CNF networks in this work have been functionalized in two different ways. In the first case, a flow channel was created within the hydrogel network at extremely low CNF concentrations, that could be surface treated with a Layer-by-layer (LbL) methodology with a consecutive addition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes/nanoparticles to add new functionalities to the channels. Secondly, wet stable aerogels, prepared at higher concentrations of CNFs, were treated using the LbL methodology to adjust the aerogels' surface structure and surface energy, thereby controlling the liquid spreading rate properties of the formed networks. The most important findings in this work are that CNF network topology and network mechanics can be described using theoretical, rather non-complicated, elastoplastic models. Furthermore, at lower concentrations of CNFs, the network structure is formed in a more organized way, meaning that the fibrils have the time and freedom to seek their optimal contact points during the network formation from a thermodynamic free energy point of view., Långa, smala cellulosananofibriller (CNF) är unika med sin höga axiella E-modul, låga diameter, höga flexibilitet och stora möjlighet till kemisk modifiering som bland annat använts för att styra fibrillernas ytladdningstäthet. Syftet med detta arbete har varit att klarlägga hur egenskaperna hos hydrogeler, framställda av nanofibriller, och dess deformationsmekanismer, kan kopplas till olika grundläggande CNF-egenskaper, koncentration och kemisk miljö. Dessutom har vi studerat inverkan av hur CNF-egenskaperna påverkar den bildade nätverksstrukturen och hur de påverkar de slutliga egenskaperna hos isotropa- och anisotropa hydrogeler och aerogeler som formats ifrån de olika fibrillslagen. Den strategi som användes, och visade sig mycket framgångsrik, för att nå dessa mål, var att kombinera teoretiska modeller som beskriver CNF-nätverkets topologi och mekanik med specialdesignade experiment för att validera de teoretiska modellerna. Vidare har ett omfattande arbete lagts ned på att karakterisera fibrillernas kemiska, strukturella och morfologiska egenskaper och att koppla dessa till de funktionella materialegenskaperna hos de material som har tillverkats ifrån dessa fibriller. Slutligen har de färdiga CNF-nätverken funktionaliserats på två olika sätt. I det första fallet skapades en stabil flödeskanal i ett hydrogelnätverk, som preparerats vid extremt låg CNF-koncentration, och det visade sig vara möjligt att ytbehandla denna kanal med en lager för lager (LbL) metod där motladdade polyelektrolyter och/eller nanopartiklar användes för att tillföra nya egenskaper till kanalen. I det andra fallet behandlades förtillverkade, våtstabila aerogeler, som preparerats vid högre koncentration av CNF, med en LbL-behandling för att kontrollera ytstruktur och ytkemi hos aerogelerna, och att därigenom kontrollera vätskespridningshastigheten hos nätverken. De viktigaste resultaten i detta arbete är att CNF-nätverkets topologi och nätverksmekanik kan beskrivas med hjälp av relativt ok, QC 2024-04-30Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-04-18.

Nanocellulose, originated from cellulose, the primary structural component of the cell walls of plants, has garnered significant attention for its excellent mechanical, optical, and barrier properties, as well as its renewable and sustainable nature. Various forms of nanocellulose, including cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), are produced by breaking down lignocellulosic fibers into nanoscale dimensions, typically through mechanical or chemical processes. The large surface area and rich hydroxyl groups of CNFs are ideal for surface modifications, offering great versatility in the development of functional biocomposite materials. This thesis aims to design CNF-based composites with integrated multifunctionalities, including redispersibility, biocompatibility, mechanical robustness, wet integrity, as well as optical transparency, through surface engineering of cellulose nanofibers. The methodology involves strategically selecting CNFs, integrating CNFs with biopolymers, applying surface modifications, and implementing facile processing techniques. In Paper I, inspiration from plant cell wall was drawn to customize the interaction between water and CNFs. By Incorporating mixed-linkage beta-glucan from barley, superior rehydration, redispersion, and recycling of dried CNFs have been achieved. This advancement holds the potential to enhance the transportation and processability of CNF-based materials. In Paper II, by leveraging the interaction between CNF and water, a facile material processing technique was introduced to fabricate CNF/regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) composites. This involved rehydration and swelling of TEMPO-oxidized CNF nanopaper structures with both random-oriented CNF and nematic-ordered CNF in the RSF solutions. Remarkably, the CNF/RSF composite films thus prepared exhibited exceptional mechanical properties in both dry conditions and in PBS, and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility when cultured with L929 fibroblast cell. In, Nanocellulosa, som ursprungligen kommer från cellulosa, den primära strukturella komponenten i växters cellväggar, har fått betydande uppmärksamhet för sina unika egenskaper, inklusive utmärkta mekaniska, optiska och barriäregenskaper, samt dess förnybara och hållbara natur. Nanocellulosa, inklusive cellulosa nanokristaller och cellulosa nanofibrer (CNF), produceras genom att bryta ned lignocellulosa fibrer till nanoskala dimensioner, vanligtvis genom mekaniska eller kemiska processer. Den stora ytan och de rika hydroxylgrupperna hos CNF är idealiska för ytmodifieringar, vilket avsevärt ökar dess mångsidighet i utvecklingen av funktionella biokompositmaterial. Denna avhandling syftar till att designa CNF-baserade kompositer med integrerade multifunktionaliteter inklusive redispergerbarhet, biokompatibilitet, mekanisk robusthet, våtintegritet, samt optisk transparens genom ytmodifiering av cellulosananofibrer. Metodiken innefattar strategiskt val av CNF, integrering av CNF med biopolymerer, tillämpning av ytmodifieringar och implementering av enkla bearbetningstekniker. I Paper I inspirerades man av växtcellväggen för att anpassa interaktionen mellan vatten och CNF. Genom att tillsätta betaglukan från korn, har bättre rehydrering, redispersion, och återvinning av torkade CNF uppnåtts. Denna framsteg möjliggör förbättring av transporten och bearbetningen av CNF-baserade material. I Paper II, utnyttjades interaktionen mellan CNF och vatten, vilket introducerade en enkel materialbearbetningsteknik för att tillverka CNF/regenererad silkfibroin (RSF) kompositer. Detta involverade rehydrering och svullnad av TEMPO-oxiderade CNF nanopapperstrukturer med både slumpmässigt orienterade CNF och nematiskt ordnade CNF i RSF-lösningarna. De förberedda CNF/RSF kompositfilmerna uppvisade exceptionella mekaniska egenskaper både i torra förhållanden och i PBS, och visade utmärkt biokompatibilitet när de odlades med L929 fibroblastcell. I Paper III, förbereddes CNF/alginate dubbelnätve, QC 20240404Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-04-04

Cellulose-based aerogels are emerging bio-based materials for a range of applications in the quest toward a circular and carbon-neutral society. Owing to their lightweight nature, high porosity, high specific surface area, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, cellulose aerogels are suitable for packaging, insulation, wound care products, hygiene products, and water purification. However, their commercial use is hampered by complicated time- and energy-consuming fabrication processes. Hence, industrially relevant processes with upscaling opportunities need to be developed for cellulose-based aerogels to reach their full potential. This thesis explores different scalable and simple methods for preparing and designing highly porous aerogels with high wet integrity using cellulose-rich fibers and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). As wet integrity is crucial for specific applications and enables further functionalization of the aerogels using water-based chemistry, different methods were developed to achieve wet integrity without complicated crosslinking procedures. The effects of the raw materials and processing methods on the final material properties were also carefully studied to optimize the performance for the targeted applications. Moreover, the role of the network-forming ability of CNFs in the development of functional materials with structural integrity was explored by incorporating small amounts of CNFs in aerogel systems based on macroscopic cellulose-rich fibers and nanosized metal-organic frameworks. Finally, the potential of the different developed cellulose-based or cellulose-reinforced aerogels with high wet integrity was demonstrated in applications for which the aerogels’ structural integrity and physical and mechanical properties are highly advantageous, such as biomedical applications, gas storage and separation, flame retardancy, and hygiene products. As demonstrated in this thesis, these functional aerogel materials could be a bio-based alternativ, Cellulosabaserade aerogeler har på senare tid visat sig vara användbara biobaserade material för olika tillämpningar i strävan mot ett cirkulärt och kolneutralt samhälle. Materialens mycket låga densitet, höga porositet, höga specifika yta, biokompatibilitet och biologiska nedbrytbarhet innebär att cellulosaaerogeler är lämpliga för förpackningar, isolering, sårvårdsprodukter, hygienprodukter och vattenrening. Den kommersiella användningen har dock bromsats av komplicerade, tid- och energikrävande tillverkningsmetoder. Därmed måste industriellt relevanta processer med uppskalningsmöjligheter utvecklas för att cellulosabaserade aerogeler ska nå sin fulla potential. Denna avhandling utforskar olika skalbara och enkla metoder för att bereda och skräddarsy högporösa och våtstabila aerogeler från cellulosafibrer och cellulosananofibriller (CNFer). Eftersom våtstabilitet är avgörande för vissa tillämpningar och möjliggör ytterligare funktionalisering med vattenbaserad kemi, har ett omfattande arbete genomförts för att identifiera nya metoder för att skapa en god våtstabilitet utan att använda komplicerade tvärbindningsprocedurer. Ett stort fokus har även lagts på att klarlägga råvarans och bearbetningsmetodernas inverkan på de slutliga materialegenskaperna för att optimera prestandan för riktade tillämpningar. Dessutom har CNFers unika nätverksbildande egenskaper också utforskats i att skapa funktionella material med strukturell integritet från mycket små mängder CNFer i aerogelsystem baserade på makroskopiska cellulosarika fibrer och nanopartiklar av metallorganiska nätverk. Slutligen demonstrerades potentialen av de framställda cellulosabaserade och cellulosaförstärkta aerogelerna med utmärkt våtstyrka i tillämpningar där deras strukturella integritet, fysikaliska och mekaniska egenskaper kan användas på ett mycket fördelaktigt sätt, till exempel biomedicinska applikationer, gaslagring och -separering, flamskydd, och hygienprodukter. Mot bakgrund av dessa resultat är d, QC 20240522Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-05-14

Fundamental research plays a pivotal role in the development of sustainable solutions that benefit both our environment and everyday lives. Cellulose, as an abundant and renewable resource, holds immense potential for sustainable applications. However, navigating the complexities of molecular and supramolecular structure of cellulose poses significant challenges in harnessing its full potential. By delving into fundamental research, we aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms governing cellulose interactions, paving the way for innovative advancements in sustainable material development.This thesis uncovers the intricate relationship between fundamental research and applied methodologies by showing how molecular contact and structure at the interface of cellulose-rich materials will control the development of the macroscopic mechanical properties of networks from cellulose-rich fibres. The study encompasses various facets, ranging from the development of model materials for studying interfacial interactions to the preparation of fibrous networks with tailored properties.In the initial part of the work the research delves into the development of model materials to investigate interactions at smooth interfaces of regenerated cellulose. The study reveals the crucial role of the making and breaking of cellulose interface, or sometimes interphase, in the development of adhesive joints. Experimental findings demonstrate how chemical additives influence the interactions between cellulose surfaces, thereby modulating the structural and adhesive properties at the interface. Furthermore, by utilizing model materials, insights are gained into fibre-fibre interactions and the influence of surface treatments on network formation and mechanical performance. Lastly, the research focused on investigating the preparation of fibrous networks at different densities and amount of adsorbed additives, providing a comprehensive understanding of how network density and composition affect m, Grundläggande forskning spelar naturligtvis en avgörande roll i utvecklingen av hållbara materiallösningar och processer som gynnar både vår miljö och vårt vardagsliv. Cellulosa, som är en förnyelsebar och rikligt tillgänglig råvara, har också en enorm användnings potential i olika typer av hållbara material. Cellulosan har dock en avancerad och komplicerad molekylär och över molekylärstruktur och det är därför svårt att till fullo utnyttja den inneboende potentialen hos denna fascinerande råvara. Genom att fördjupa oss i och klarlägga de molekylära mekanismer som ligger till grund för växelverkan mellan cellulosarika ytor har vi skapat en grundförutsättning för att kunna utnyttja cellulosans inneboende egenskaper i olika typer av fiberbaserade nätverk . Resultaten i avhandlingen understryker den komplicerade och användbara kopplingen som finns mellan grundläggande förståelse och praktiska tillämpningar genom att visa hur den molekylära kontakten och strukturen i gränsytan mellan två cellulosa-rika ytor kommer att kontrollera de makroskopiska egenskaperna hos nätverk ifrån cellulosa rika fibrer. Studierna i avhandlingen omfattar olika aspekter, allt ifrån utvecklingen av väldefinierade och nm-jämna modellmaterial, för att studera molekylära växelverkai gränsytan mellan två cellulosa ytor, till framställningen av fibrösa nätverk med skräddarsydda egenskaper.I den första delen av arbetet har fokus legat på att utveckla väl karakteriserade modellmaterial och väldefinierade metoder för att klarlägga växelverkan i gränsytan eller gränsfasen mellan två cellulosa ytor. Resultaten visar också hur tillsats kemikalier påverkar växelverkan mellan cellulosa ytor och hur valet av kemikalier kan användas för att styra de strukturella och adhesiva egenskaperna hos gränsytan. Genom att använda våra modellmaterial har det också varit möjligt att bättre förstå de grundläggande mekanismerna som kontrollerar fiber-fiberväxelverkningar och därigenom hur tillsatskemikalier eller fibermod, QC 2024-04-08

Lignin is the largest source of renewable aromatics on earth. Despite numerous techniques for lignin depolymerization into mixtures of valuable monomers, methods for their upgrading into final products are scarce. The state of the art upgrading methods generally rely on catalytic funneling, requiring high temperatures, catalyst loadings and hydrogen pressure, and lead to the loss of functionality and bio-based carbon content. Here an alternative approach is presented, whereby the target monomers are selectively converted in unpurified mixtures into easily separable final products under mild conditions. We use reductive catalytic fractionation of wood to convert lignin into iso-eugenol and propenyl syringol enriched oil followed by an olefin metathesis to yield bisphenols and butene-2, thus, valorizing all bio-based carbons. To further demonstrate the synthetic utility of the obtained bisphenols we converted them into polyesters with a high glass transition temperature (Tg = 140.3 °C) and thermal stability (Td50% = 330 °C)., QC 20240725

In this work, the use of potato fruit juice (PFJ) in combination with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) was explored as a biobased barrier coating on paperboard. A two-layer and three-layer solution were explored. In the two-layer structure, the PFJ layer was rod-coated on pigment-coated paperboard, followed by extrusion coating of PHB on top. In the three-layered coating, paperboard without pigment coating was extrusion-coated with PHB, followed by rod coating of PFJ, and finally, extrusion-coated with PHB. The specific water vapour transmission rate was reduced by approximately 95 % and 90 % for the two- and three-layer coatings, respectively, relative to the uncoated paperboard. Besides contributing to barrier properties, the PFJ increased the bonding strength between the PHB and the paperboard. Although the three-layer coated paperboards showed better oxygen barrier properties than the two-layered coatings, the oxygen permeability was still high. Three-layer coatings exhibited moderate peeling strength, and better creasing and grease barrier properties compared to two-layered coated paperboards., QC 20240624

The out-of-plane properties of paperboard are important in several converting applications such as printing, sealing, creasing, and calendering. A juxtaposed tensile and compression curve in the z direction (ZD) will, however, appear to have a kink or discontinuity at 0 stress. The purpose of the present work is to capture the continuous transition between tension and compression and to increase the understanding of the complex ZD properties of paperboard by cyclic testing. In this attempt to unify the ZD tensile and compressive behavior of paperboard, samples were laminated to the testing platens using heat seal laminate film. The method for adhering the samples was compared to samples that were laminated and glued to the testing platens. The edge effects of the cutting method were evaluated in compression testing with samples not attached to the testing platens. The flat slope seen in the initial part of the pure compression curve disappeared when the samples were laminated to the testing platens. The flat slope was instead replaced by a continuous response in the transition across 0 N. The stiffness in the transition region resembled the response in tensile testing. When the testing is cycled, the material exhibits a history dependence. Starting the cycle in either compression or tensile will show an effect on the stiffness at the transition, as well as the compressive stiffness. However, the ultimate tensile strength is unaffected., QC 20240624

The colloidal layer formation on porous materials is a crucial step for printing and applying functional coatings, which can be used to fabricate anticounterfeiting paper. The deposition of colloidal layers and subsequent thermal treatment allows for modifying the hydrophilicity of the surface of a material. In the present work, wood-based colloidal inks are applied by spray deposition on spray-deposited porous cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) films. The surface modification by thermal annealing of the fabricated colloid-cellulose hybrid thin films is investigated in terms of layering and hydrophobicity. The polymer colloids in the inks are core-shell nanoparticles with different sizes and glass transition temperatures (T-g), thus enabling different and low thermal treatment temperatures. The ratio between the core polymers, poly(sobrerol methacrylate) (PSobMA), and poly(-butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) determines the T-g and hence allows for tailoring of the T-g. The layer formation of the colloidal inks on the porous CNF layer depends on the imbibition properties of the CNF layer which is determined by their morphology. The water adhesion of the CNF layer decreases due to the deposition of the colloids and thermal treatment except for the colloids with a size smaller than the void size of the porous CNF film. In this case, the colloids are imbibed into the CNF layer when T-g of the colloids is reached and the polymer chains transit in a mobile phase. Tailored aggregate and nanoscale-embedded hybrid structures are achieved depending on the colloid properties. The imbibition of these colloids into the porous CNF films is verified with grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. This study shows a route for tuning the nanoscale structure and macroscopic physicochemical properties useful for anticounterfeiting paper., QC 20240604

QC 20240514

Tensile properties of paperboard have been characterized, and it has been shown that paper tensile properties are dependent on the strain rate. Tensile testing was done using strain rates in the range 10(-4)-3 s(-1), which corresponds to crosshead movements ranging from 1 up to 24,000 mm/min, using an electro-mechanical testing machine. Two paperboards, and its free-laid top, middle and bottom plies were characterized in MD and CD. The testing was limited by the maximum crosshead speed of the testing machine. Initially 50 mm (grip to grip) long samples were tested, but to test even higher strain rates also short samples with length of 5 mm were tested. The results showed that ultimate strength increased by 9 % per decade increasing of testing rate, and Young's modulus increased by 7 %. This shows that the previously reported rule of thumb of 10 % increase of in-plane strength per decade increase of strain rate holds. The testing here shows that this is valid also at strain rates as high as 3 s(-1). Moreover, the strain at break in CD for long tensile specimens was observed to decrease when the strain rate exceeded 0.1 s(-1), which resulted in straighter crack paths., QC 20240513

The linear lifecycle of the textile industry contributes to the enormous waste generation of post-consumer garments. Recycling or repurposing of post-consumer garments typically requires separation of the individual components. This study describes a novel and facile chemo-thermo-mechanical method for producing extrudable pellets, involving one-pot, 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation of post-consumer polycotton textiles, followed by mild mechanical treatment, all without isolating the constituents of the polycotton blend. The oxidized blend with high cellulose and carboxylate content of 1221 ± 82 mmol COO− per kg of cotton, is pelletised into a masterbatch and further in situ extruded into nanocomposite filaments for 3D printing. The carboxyl groups introduced on the polycotton-based filters enable cotton fibrillation into nanoscaled fibers during mechanical treatment and extrusion resulting to a variety of functional and high surface-finish quality models, including filters and fashion accessories. The electrostatic interactions with positively charged species, such as methylene blue (MB), facilitate their adsorption from water while exhibiting promising adsorption capacities. The adsorption of MB follows the Freundlich model and depends on the printed porosity of the filter. A “trash to treasure” concept for textile waste is further corroborated through the use of the developed 3D printing filament into commodity products.

In recent decades, the production of nanocellulose has gained significant attention. Nanocellulose-based film materials have found widespread applications in various high-end sectors owing to their remarkable characteristics. Nevertheless, the limitation of certain functional properties, such as resistance to water and fire, has posed challenges to their broader utilization. In this study, we conducted a comparative investigation on the impact of two distinct chemical modifications, namely, TEMPO-mediated oxidation and phosphorylation, on the production of nanocellulose sheets via a papermaking-assisted process. This approach explores the synergistic effects of these modifications in enhancing the properties of cellulose nanofibers for nanopaper production. To achieve this, we proposed utilizing Henna stems as an alternative source of cellulosic material, aiming to harness untapped agricultural residues as a sustainable alternative to conventional sources such as wood and cotton. The phosphorylated Henna nanopaper exhibited substantial enhancements in terms of mechanical properties, wettability, fire resistance, and water vapor permeability when compared to the TEMPO-modified Henna nanopaper. In conclusion, our findings underscore the potential of Henna stems as an environmentally sustainable source of cellulose for nanofiber production, positioning it as a promising alternative to wood and other lignocellulosic sources for advanced applications.

This manuscript presents the study of water absorption by paperboard subjected to water at high hydrostatic pressure based on a modified Cobb tester. The new tester is based on TAPPI Standard Test Method T 441; however, the water column can reach up to 550 mm. The evaluation consisted of measurements of water absorption for coated and uncoated paperboard at different exposure times from 5 s to 45 s and water column heights from 10 mm to 500 mm (corresponding to hydrostatic pressures 98 Pa and 4.9 kPa, respectively). The coatings were formulated as a combination of styrene acrylate (SA; two binder levels) and two types of ground calcium carbonates (differing particle sizes) to form the two pre -coating structures: open and closed. The coating weight was 6 g/m2 applied on 210 g/m2 solid bleached board (SBB). In addition, 210 g/m2 uncoated boards were studied. Characterization of the coatings was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion, and roughness. It was found that the new device properly mimics the conditions of the current Cobb tester. The characterization of the coating also confirmed the presence of more open/larger pores of open coatings, confirming the desired coating structure. The absorption of boards was mainly driven by exposure pressure by comparing with exposure time. This was already evident after shorter periods of exposure time at 5 s and also 15 s exposure time. Paperboards with open coatings showed slightly higher absorption than other boards.

Hydrogels of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are promising wound dressing candidates due to their biocompatibility, high water absorption, and transparency. Herein, two different commercially available wood species, softwood and hardwood, were subjected to TEMPO-mediated oxidation to proceed with delignification and oxidation in a one-pot process, and thereafter, nanofibrils were isolated using a high-pressure microfluidizer. Furthermore, transparent nanofibril hydrogel networks were prepared by vacuum filtration. Nanofibril properties and network performance correlated with oxidation were investigated and compared with commercially available TEMPO-oxidized pulp nanofibrils and their networks. Softwood nanofibril hydrogel networks exhibited the best mechanical properties, and in vitro toxicological risk assessment showed no detrimental effect for any of the studied hydrogels on human fibroblast or keratinocyte cells. This study demonstrates a straightforward processing route for direct oxidation of different wood species to obtain nanofibril hydrogels for potential use as wound dressings, with softwood having the most potential., Validerad;2024;Nivå 2;2024-03-27 (hanlid);Full text license: CC BY 4.0, HEALiX

Recent progress in nanocellulose production favors lignin-rich raw fibers due to their cost effectiveness, higher yield of unbleached pulp, and added benefits from residual lignin, positioning them as ideal substitutes for fossil-based materials in composites and packaging. Nonetheless, their application has been impeded due to their inferior mechanical properties. This study introduces a simplified method to enhance the strength of lignin-containing microfibrillated cellulose (LMFC) films using water as a plasticizer during drying. Both LMFC from unbleached pulps and lignin-free microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) from fully bleached industrial kraft pulp were prepared through an environmentally friendly and scalable method. Given the charged carboxylic groups from hemicellulose and residual lignin, the LMFC gel demonstrated greater colloidal stability compared to MFC. Moreover, lignin-rich films displayed heightened hydrophobicity and exceptional thermal stability (T-max > 345 degrees C). A significant improvement in tensile strength and Young's modulus of LMFC films was achieved with an elevated drying temperature from 40 degrees C to above 90 degrees C, increasing tensile strength from 248 to 283 MPa and Young's modulus by 84%. These improvements are attributed to the thermoplastic nature of lignin and the plasticizing effect of water at elevated temperatures. The longer fibers in microfibrillated films also improved the resistance to cracking in a folded state. The study highlights that enhancement of the properties of lignin-rich films can occur during the film making step itself, hinting at a sustainable, innovative method for creating robust and scalable materials for flexible devices, biocomposites, and packaging., QC 20240206

This study presents a thermodynamically consistent continuum damage model for fiber-based materials that combines elastoplasticity and damage mechanisms to simulate the nonlinear mechanical behavior under in-plane loading. The anisotropic plastic response is characterized by a non-quadratic yield surface composed of six sub-surfaces, providing flexibility in defining plastic properties and accuracy in reproducing material response. The damage response is modeled based on detailed uniaxial monotonic and cyclic tension-loaded experiments conducted on specimens extracted from a paper sheet in various directions. To account for anisotropic damage, we propose a criterion consisting of three sub-surfaces representing tension damage in the in-plane material principal directions and shear direction, where the damage onset is determined through cyclic loading tests. The damage evolution employs a normalized fracture energy concept based on experimental observation, which accommodates an arbitrary uniaxial loading direction. To obtain a mesh-independent numerical solution, the model is regularized using the implicit gradient enhancement by utilizing the linear heat equation solver available in commercial finite-element software. The study provides insights into the damage behavior of fiber-based materials, which can exhibit a range of failure modes from brittle-like to ductile, and establishes relationships between different length measurements., QC 20240209

The ability to control the structure of the wood-pulp fiber cell wall is an attractive means to obtain increased accessibility to the fiber interior, providing routes for functionalization of the fibers that support further processing and novel material concepts, e.g. improved degree of polymerization, nanofiltration as demonstrated in previous studies. It has been proposed that dynamic compression and decompression of the cellulose pulp fibers in the wet state make it possible to modify the cell wall significantly. We hypothesize that hydrostatic pressure exerted on fibers fully submerged in water will increase the accessibility of the fiber wall by penetrating the fiber through weak spots in the cell wall. To pursue this, we have developed an experimental facility that can subject wet cellulose pulp samples to a pressure pulse -10 ms long and with a peak pressure of -300 MPa. The experiment is thus specifically designed to elucidate the effect of a rapid high-pressure pulse passing through the cellulose sample and enables studies of changes in structural properties over different size ranges. Different characterization techniques, including Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering, have been used to evaluate the material exposed to pulsed pressure. The mechanism of pressure build-up is estimated computationally to complement the results. Key findings from the experiments consider a decrease in crystallinity and changes in the surface morphology of the cellulose sample., QC 20240103

With material properties as a starting point, this study focuses on analyzing the performance of a paperboard package. Torsional and compressive loading of a paperboard package have been investigated through physical experiments and finite element (FE) simulations, where an orthotropic linear elastic material model with a stress-based failure criterion was used. Comparing physical experiments and FE simulations of box compression and torsion showed that the finite element models could accurately predict the response curves. Additionally, the model was utilized to investigate which impact variations in moisture, bending stiffness, and crease quality had on packaging performance. The effect of moisture was examined through an established master curve, where the necessary mechanical properties could be expressed as linear functions of moisture ratio. The impact of creases was evaluated by varying previously established ratios (relative crease strength, RCS, tensile strength, RTS) for reducing the creases’ mechanical properties in the simulations. Furthermore, the results showed that the strength of the paperboard affects the maximum compressive strength and maximum torque. Still, the bending stiffness of the paperboard only had a minor effect on box compression strength. To conclude, the model accurately predicted how moisture, crease quality, and bending stiffness affected packaging performance., QC 20231116

In this work, we investigate a multicomponent synthetic method for combining saccharides with cellulose to produce saccharide branched cellulose (b-Cel). First, cellulose is modified conventionally using carboxymethyl to create carboxyl functional groups for multicomponent reactions. The Passerini three-component reaction (Passerini-3CR) is then used to synthesize the saccharide b-Cel, with particular attention paid to the scope of the substrate and reaction process optimization. The structure of saccharide b-Cel is regulated by modifying the carboxyl group of cellulose molecules, the kind of saccharide molecules (including glucose, galactose, lactose, cellobiose, and cellulose), and the degree of branching. The branched structure of saccharide b-Cel greatly influenced its rheological characteristics and solubility. This work presents a practical method for the synthesis of artificial branching polysaccharides and is crucial for the development of innovative materials based on biomass., QC 20231129

Integration of fiber modification step with a modern pulp mill is a resource efficient way to produce functional fibers. Motivated by the need to integrate polymer adsorption with the current pulping system, anion-specific effects in carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) adsorption have been studied. The QCM-D adsorption experiments revealed that CMC adsorption to the cellulose model surface is prone to anion-specific effects. A correlation was observed between the adsorbed CMC and the degree of hydration of the co-ions present in the magnesium salts. The presence of a chaotropic co-ion such as nitrate increased the adsorption of CMC on cellulose compared to the presence of the kosmotropic sulfate co-ion. However, anion-specificity was not significant in the case of salts containing zinc cations. The hydration of anions determines the distribution of the ions at the interface. Chaotropic ions, such as nitrates, are likely to be distributed near the chaotropic cellulose surface, causing changes in the ordering of water molecules and resulting in greater entropy gain once released from the surface, thus increasing CMC adsorption., QC 20231114