What do we still need to understand to commercialize cellulose nanomaterials?†

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNM) have the potential to become predominant nanoparticles utilized in materials engineering fields ranging from flexible electronic supports and tissue scaffolds to nanocomposite reinforcement materials and aerogels for oil capture. The potential of this emerging technological material is currently hindered by the inability efficiently to produce consistent cellulose nanomaterial-based products on an industrial scale. To quantify key properties of CNM (most notably surface properties, particle size and degree of crystallinity), several measurement methods and techniques have been employed by researchers. However, the currently available measurement techniques are too expensive (in terms of both time and money) to be applicable for high-throughput, full-scale industrial process monitoring. In an effort to highlight and identify the most critical measurement requirements, a workshop was conducted by National Institute of Standards and Technology in conjunction with the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry’s Nanotechnology Conference in 2014. This workshop brought together key researchers and manufacturers at the forefront of CNM research and production. The goal of the workshop was to discuss the existing deficiencies in CNM metrology, as well as to inform and inspire measurement science development in the field.