Cellulose Nanofiber Resin Composition Solvent-Free Refining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing cellulose nanofibers require solvent-based processes, leading to complex procedures and the presence of uncured resin as plasticizers in molded products, which deteriorate the quality and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
Refining cellulose in a mixture containing a compound with a reactive double-bond group and a defibrating resin, allowing for direct combination with other resins without solvent displacement, reducing the amount of uncured resin and simplifying the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cellulose is refined in water or organic solvent, then cellulose nanofibers can be produced, but the process becomes complex and requires solvent displacement and removal steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the solvent from the cellulose refinement process. Instead of using water or organic solvents that require subsequent displacement and removal steps, the invention directly refines cellulose in the resin itself, taking out the intermediate solvent step entirely and simplifying the overall production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The resin serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the refining medium and the final matrix material. By using the resin to refine cellulose directly, the process eliminates the need for separate solvent displacement and removal steps, as the resin itself becomes the universal medium for both refinement and final product formation.
2Ease of manufacture
If polyester or acrylic resins are used in large amounts to refine cellulose, then cellulose can be processed, but the resins remain as uncured material and act as plasticizers that deteriorate molded body quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the resin by selecting compounds with reactive double-bond groups and controlled hydroxyl values. This parameter change enables the resin to cure and form a crosslinked network, transforming it from an uncured plasticizing material into a structured, cured matrix that provides mechanical strength without the harmful plasticizer effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system where cellulose nanofibers are integrated with a cured resin matrix. The composite structure combines the high strength and stiffness of cellulose nanofibers with the mechanical properties of the crosslinked resin, eliminating the plasticizer effect while maintaining ease of processing during the refinement stage.
3Manufacturing precision
If compounds with reactive double-bond groups and low hydroxyl values are used, then molded body quality is improved, but current methods cannot refine cellulose with these compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical reactivity parameters of the compound with reactive double-bond groups by controlling its hydroxyl value and molecular weight. This parameter adjustment enables the compound to effectively refine cellulose while maintaining its ability to cure and form a high-quality molded body, bridging the gap between processability and final product quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the production of high-strength cellulose nanofiber composites with reduced plasticizer content, improving product quality and reducing production costs by eliminating solvent-based procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a compound having a reactive double-bond group and a hydroxyl value of 10 KOHmg/g or less
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein is a cellulose nanofiber-containing composition producing method for producing a cellulose nanofiber-containing composition that can be easily combined with compounds having a reactive double-bond group, and that contains only a small amount of uncured material that acts as a plasticizer in a molded product, using a simple producing method that does not require any process involving solvent displacement or solvent removal. A high-strength molded body prepared by using the cellulose nanofiber-containing composition is also provided. In refining cellulose in a mixture containing a compound having a reactive double-bond group and a hydroxyl group of 10 KOHmg/g or less and a defibrating resin as essential components, the cellulose has a moisture content of 4 to 25 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the amount of the cellulose converted on the assumption that the percentage moisture of the cellulose is 0%.