Development of new bio based materials using nanotechnology

The main objective of this project is to create new functional biofibre-based materials with industrially attractive properties. Functionalized nano-sized cellulose microfibrils (MFC) will be developed by modification of never-dried MFC using tailored che mical coupling reactions. On a more general level, another main objective is the development of a national platform of expertise in manufacture, characterisation and utilisation of MFC as a raw material in new products. The project combines expertise in cellulose and fibre technology at PFI (including new technology for producing MFC) with expertise in chemical functionalization of synthetic polymers at SINTEF and expertise in surface and colloid chemistry at the Department of Chemical Engineering/Ugelst ad Laboratory, NTNU (IKP). This comprehensive expertise at PFI, SINTEF and IKP will establish a unique national platform of expertise on characterisation and modification of cellulosic materials in general (and MFC in particular). This is a necessity for the development of MFC and cellulose in general as raw materials for other products than traditional paper and packaging applications, and hence the project will also be of immediate importance to Norwegian industries.