Profiles of 7 of the leading nanocellulose manufacturers in this exciting new materials market.
Despite being the most available natural polymer on earth, it is only recently that cellulose has gained prominence as a nanostructured material, in the form of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and micro/nanofibrillar cellulose (MFC/NFC) and bacterial cellulose (BC). Today there is a substantial amount of research on these materials, and commercial development is now underway with some very promising applications. Nanocellulose is being developed for use in applications ranging from scaffolds in tissue engineering, artificial skin and cartilage, wound healing and vessel substitutes to biodegradable food packaging. Applications in polymer reinforcement and anti-microbial films will be hitting the market soon.
In recent years, composite materials of cellulose and conductive polymers have received significant attention. Nanocellulose is being developed for strength enhancing additives for renewable and biodegradable composites, with the cellulosic nanofibrillar structures as a binder between the two organic phases are being produced for improved fracture toughness and prevention of crack formation for application in packaging, construction materials, appliances and renewable fibres. They are attractive because of their wide abundance, their renewable and environmentally benign nature, and their outstanding mechanical properties. Recent interests in green nanocomposites and public demand for more environmental friendly products have sparked the development of nanocomposites derived from renewable sources. Biobased packaging materials based on nanocellulose provide both good mechanical properties such as strength and flexibility as well as good oxygen barrier properties. Production of nanocellulose has to now been on the lab scale, in kilogram batches. However a number of manufacturing facilities have or are being built that will increase production to upwards of multiple tons per day. NCC and NFC cellulose are the most widely produced types.
Celluforce
THE COMPANY
The company is a joint venture of Domtar Corporation and FPInnovations. CelluForce opened a demonstration plant in Windsor, Quebec, in January 2012 and aims to produce 1,000 kilograms per day.
TECHNOLOGY
In January 2012, Celluforce officially inaugurated today the world’s first NanoCrystalline Cellulose (NCC) demonstration plant at the Domtar pulp and paper mill site in Windsor, Quebec. The production target is one ton per day. Trials integrating NCC into the manufacturing process of different products are currently taking place through technical collaboration agreements between CelluForce and 15 companies based in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia.
Markets
The company is focused on four main industrial sectors: paints and coatings, films and barriers, textiles, and composites.
J.Rettenmaier
www.jrs.de
THE COMPANY
J. RETTENMAIER & SÖHNE GMBH+CO. KG is a German-based company with over 1600 employees worldwide. They produce optimised and surface-modified ARBOCEL® and LIGNOCEL® wood fibres for PVC, PP and PE plastics as well as bioplastics.
TECHNOLOGY
The company produce two nanofibrillar cellulose products, NFC-100-5 and UFC-100. Applications include packaging (cellulosic styrofoam), insulation materials, composites, filters and membranes and tissue engineering products.
Markets
Main markets are in plastics for bio-based packaging applications. Applications are in dense and transparent films, porous and opaque films and aerogels.
Melodea
http://melodea.eu
THE COMPANY
Melodea is an Israel-based producer of bio-based composite materials from renewable resources. The company is a spin-off from the FP& NMP program: Innovative Advanced WOOD Composite Materials and Components (http://www.woodyproject.eu/).
TECHNOLOGY
Developing technologies for producing nanocrystalline cellulosic particles from the sludge of paper production, and products based on NCC such as industrial foams. Their main product is a material produced from nanocrystalline cellulosic particles and bio-based resin from the production of sandwich panels.
Markets
The main market is the composite industry. The companys NCC Foams are converted into 100% Bio-Based Core Material for Sandwich Composites for the Wind Turbine, Aviation, Marine and Transport markets.
Engineered Fibers Technology
www.eftfibers.com
THE COMPANY
Engineered Fibers Technology, LLC (EFT) has developed a product line of nanofibers called EFTec™ Nanofibrillated Fibers, which are produced from a wide range of synthetic and natural materials.
TECHNOLOGY
EFTec nanofibrillated fibers are available in a range of standard grades, either as a wet crumb (about 20% solids) or as an aqueous slurry (< 5% solids). Three types of precursor material are available, and all types can be produced with different fiber lengths and different degrees of fibrillation.
Markets
Nanofibrillated Fibers are suitable for use in papermaking and other wet processes, as well as many types of dry processed engineered materials.
UPM
www.upm.com
THE COMPANY
UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 24,500 people and it has production plants in 16 countries. UPM’s annual sales exceed EUR 10 billion.
TECHNOLOGY
UPM has started pre-commercial production of fibril cellulose and is currently developing new fibril cellulose applications with industrial partners. UPM initiated the fibril cellulose product development process in 2008. Pre-commercial production began in October 2011 at Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland. UPM is now able to provide different types of fibril cellulose for extensive customer testing. UPM Fibril Cellulose is biobased, biodegradable and non-toxic product. The raw material of fibril cellulose is wood, a natural and renewable resource from sustainably managed forests.
Markets
The companys products are being applied to paper, packaging, concrete, oil drilling, cosmetics, feed and composite markets.
Alberta Innovates
http://albertatechfutures.ca
THE COMPANY
Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF) was established on January 1, 2010 to leverage Alberta’s established strengths in research innovation.
TECHNOLOGY
Alberta Innovates-Technology is establishing a NCC production facility with 100 KG/day capacity. Located in Edmonton, the $5.5-million pilot plant is funded by a $2-million grant from the Alberta government’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology and a $2.5-million federal grant provided by Western Economic Diversification. Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF), provides the remaining $1 million. The plant is set to be completed in summer 2012.
Markets
Applications are in the energy sector in simulation chemicals, enhanced oil recovery chemicals and drilling fluids.
BioVision
www.biovisiontech.ca
THE COMPANY
BioVision Technology, Inc. is a Nova Scotia based biotech firm producing around 100kg/day of Nanocrystalline Cellulose. The preparation method is licensed from the National Research Council (NRC).
TECHNOLOGY
Bio Vision has constructed and operated a pilot plant for scaling up to successfully commercialize the production of a highly pure and unique second-generation nanocrystalline cellulose (carboxlated NCC) known as Nanocel™.
Markets
Nanocel™ has unique mechanical, rheological, barrier, surface, optical, and electrical properties for application in . Iridescent films and barriers, such as pigments and packaging, coatings (paints and varnishes), textiles and composites.
