High aspect ratio cellulose nanofilaments and method for their production
US9051684B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 9, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/298
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method to produce on a commercial scale, high aspect ratio cellulose nanofilaments (CNF) from natural lignocellulosic fibers comprises a multi-pass high consistency refining (HCR) of chemical or mechanical fibers using combinations of refining intensity and specific energy. The CNF produced represents a mixture of fine filaments with widths in the submicron and lengths from tens of micrometers to few millimeters. The product has a population of free filaments and filaments bound to the fiber core from which they were produced. The proportion of free and bound filaments is governed in large part by total specific energy applied to the pulp in the refiner, and differs from other cellulose fibrillar materials by their higher aspect ratio and the preserved degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose, and are excellent additives for the reinforcement of paper, tissue, paperboard and the like. They display exceptional strengthening power for never-dried paper webs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.