Fpinnovations

Joseph Donat Louis Godbout

Richard M Berry

Stephanie Beck

Jean Bouchard

Xuejun Zou

Xuequan Tan

Flexible nanocrystalline cellulose films (NCC) include a polymer while retaining the property of tunable color. Polymers, for example PVOH and SB-latex, are effective in increasing the flexibility of the NCC films. The NCC film made with PVOH retains the iridescence better than that made with SB-latex; however, the NCC film made with SB-latex has a better tensile strength. In addition, the NCC film made with PVOH was found to disperse easily in water while the NCC film made with SB latex does not disperse in water (it is strongly water resistant). The color of NCC film made with PVOH and SB-latex can still be tuned with techniques that provide for tuning.

Flexible, iridescent nanocrystalline cellulose film, and method for preparation

A new method to control the dispersibility of dried nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) by controlling solution pH and ionic strength is provided; when stable, non-reswellable acid-form NCC (H-NCC) films are placed in concentrated sodium hydroxide solutions, they swell but do not disperse; while sodium-form NCC (Na-NCC) or other NCC films having neutral monovalent counterions readily disperse in pure water, Na-NCC films placed in hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride as well as sodium hydroxide solutions of sufficient ionic strength swell, but do not disperse; similar properties are observed for freeze-dried NCC products. The dispersibility of these NCC films is a function of the ionic strength and the identity of the electrolyte solutions to which they are exposed. NCC films are envisaged that have barrier properties in an electrolyte solution but that disintegrate or disperse when rinsed with pure water at the end of their useful lifespan.

Method to control the dispersibility and barrier properties of dried nanocrystalline cellulose in solutions of different pH and ionic strength

Dried forms of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) with controllable redispersibility in water are provided; lightweight and easily transportable dried acid-form nanocrystalline cellulose which can be resuspended for use in a desired application can be produced by maintaining the humidity content of the NCC within a specific, low, range; evaporated acid-form NCC suspensions with moisture contents below this range are non-dispersible and therefore can be subsequently fixed in permanently dried form; the second form is produced by exchanging the proton of the acid-form NCC for neutral monovalent counterions and freeze-drying the NCC to give a solid product which rapidly disperses when placed in water; properties similar to those of the original suspension are also obtained with a brief sonication treatment.

Growing community of inventors

Montreal, Canada

Joseph Donat Louis Godbout