Liquid-solid interaction in wood fiber based materials is a pillar in Theme 5 relating to several relevant fiber based materials such as hygiene products and liquid barriers. Central to the work in Theme 5 is the aim to replace currently used synthetic product components with novel bio-based counterparts. The work will address fiber based materials throughout the entire structural hierarchy ranging from the molecular level up to the fiber network level, with the intention of tailoring materials with desired macroscopic material properties. As one example, synthetic super-absorbing polymers currently used for liquid storage in hygiene products could be replaced by bio-based materials such as micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) or MFC based foams with an engineered pore size distribution for optimal liquid transport and liquid storage. The work aims at both developing new high quality materials with improved properties and the integration of new materials into composites for reaching desirable, and sometimes conflicting, combinations of material properties.
Technology platforms available within the WWSC in neighbouring themes will be utilized and unavailable relevant technology platforms will be developed within Theme 5.
The establishment of a new technology platform has commenced – the establishment of a laboratory facility for measuring liquid storage and liquid spreading properties in fiber/fibril networks. This facility enables studies to be made into the fundamental and important relationship between solid structure of porous materials and their interaction with liquids.
Micro/nano-structured materials
Liquid-solid interaction in wood fiber based materials is a pillar in Theme 5 relating to several relevant fiber based materials such as hygiene products and liquid barriers. Central to the work in Theme 5 is the aim to replace currently used synthetic product components with novel bio-based counterparts. The work will address fiber based materials throughout the entire structural hierarchy ranging from the molecular level up to the fiber network level, with the intention of tailoring materials with desired macroscopic material properties. As one example, synthetic super-absorbing polymers currently used for liquid storage in hygiene products could be replaced by bio-based materials such as micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) or MFC based foams with an engineered pore size distribution for optimal liquid transport and liquid storage. The work aims at both developing new high quality materials with improved properties and the integration of new materials into composites for reaching desirable, and sometimes conflicting, combinations of material properties.
Technology platforms available within the WWSC in neighbouring themes will be utilized and unavailable relevant technology platforms will be developed within Theme 5.
The establishment of a new technology platform has commenced – the establishment of a laboratory facility for measuring liquid storage and liquid spreading properties in fiber/fibril networks. This facility enables studies to be made into the fundamental and important relationship between solid structure of porous materials and their interaction with liquids.