Cellulose Nanofiber Powder Sizing to Prevent Drying Agglomeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dried cellulose nanofibers tend to aggregate and solidify, rapidly absorb water, and are difficult to handle and transport due to high hydrophilicity, leading to increased costs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
Forming a powder with specific particle size, water content, and structural properties such as angle of repose and fall, pH, to prevent aggregation and improve handling and transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If cellulose nanofibers are dried to form a dried product, then packaging and storage costs are reduced, but the dried product aggregates and solidifies, forming lumps that are difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the particle size distribution (D10 ≤ 10 μm, D50 ≤ 45 μm) and water content (≤ 20% by mass) of the dried cellulose nanofiber powder. These parameter optimizations prevent aggregation and solidification during drying and storage, while maintaining ease of handling and transfer efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If cellulose nanofibers are dried to form a dried product, then storage and transportation costs are reduced, but the dried product has high hydrophilicity and rapidly absorbs water, adhering to various places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the water content parameter to ≤ 20% by mass and controls particle size distribution (D10 ≤ 10 μm) to reduce the harmful effect of rapid water absorption. This parameter optimization maintains ease of handling while minimizing adhesion to equipment and surfaces during storage and transportation.
3Quantity of substance
If cellulose nanofibers are dried to form a dried product, then packaging costs are reduced, but the dried product forms lumps during redispersion, reducing transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes particle size distribution parameters (D10 ≤ 10 μm, D50 ≤ 45 μm) and water content (≤ 20% by mass) to prevent lump formation during redispersion. This ensures high transfer efficiency and productivity while maintaining cost-effectiveness through reduced packaging requirements.
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
The anionically modified cellulose nanofiber powder suppresses aggregation, reduces water absorption, and enhances handling and transfer efficiency while minimizing costs.
Implementation Method 1
When an aqueous dispersion of cellulose nanofibers is dried to form a dried solid, hydrogen bonds are formed between fibers of fine cellulose fibers
Implementation Method 2
the cellulose nanofiber dried product has high hydrophilicity, and therefore the cellulose nanofibers rapidly absorb water during use and adhere to various places in a process
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A powder containing an anionically modified cellulose nanofiber having an average fiber diameter of 3 nm to 500 nm, in which the powder has a water content of less than or equal to 20% by mass, an average particle size of less than 45 µm, and a cumulative 10% diameter (D10) of less than or equal to 10 µm in a volume-based particle diameter distribution.