The project ran between November 2020 and June 2021.
Today, nonwoven production is largely dependent on non-sustainable fibers, both in terms of raw material and manufacturing process. Man-made cellulosic fibers, produced in a sustainable way and having tunable properties, are therefore getting an essential role. Fibers spun from cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) extracted from wood have recently received enormous attention upon discovery of a method to produce fibers with exceptional mechanical properties. Particularly, CNF may play an important role in the transition towards more sustainable bio-based materials for nonwovens. However, some issues of fiber properties, particularly the wet strength, is a challenge. Within this project, these novel types of cellulose fibers were adapted towards the use in nonwovens. They were particularly optimized to extend their wet strength to the comparable values of viscose by introducing chemical cross-linking.
Participants
RISE IVF AB and Essity Hygiene and Health AB.
Budget
The project’s total budget was 910 440 SEK.
The picture shows fibres of nano cellulose. Photo: RISE