Articles of manufacture comprising nanocellulose elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nanocellulose materials face challenges in commercial-scale drying and redispersion due to aggregation and hornification, limiting their use in various applications, as existing techniques are costly, energy-intensive, and require specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
The use of liquid formulations containing nanocellulose elements and drying/dispersal additives such as temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives, and blocking agents to prevent aggregation during drying, allowing for redispersion in aqueous media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional drying techniques are used on nanocellulose suspensions, then the nanocellulose can be dried and processed, but aggregation and hornification occur that prevent redispersion
Solution Approach 1:
A drying assistant substance is introduced as an intermediary between the nanocellulose particles and the drying environment. This substance prevents direct aggregation and hornification of nanocellulose during drying by acting as a protective mediator, allowing the nanocellulose to be dried without permanent aggregation while maintaining redispersion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical and physical parameters of the drying environment by introducing the drying assistant substance, which modifies the surface properties and interaction mechanisms during drying. This parameter change prevents the harmful aggregation process while enabling successful drying and subsequent redispersion.
2Ease of operation
If aqueous suspensions of nanocellulose are dried to reduce transportation volume, then the material becomes easier to handle and transport, but the dried material forms aggregates that cannot be redispersed
Solution Approach 1:
The drying assistant substance serves as a protective intermediary during the drying process, preventing nanocellulose particles from directly contacting and aggregating. This intermediary layer allows the material to be dried into a handleable powder form while preventing the formation of permanent aggregates, enabling subsequent redispersion in aqueous media.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful drying process that causes aggregation into a beneficial process by using the drying assistant substance. The drying assistant transforms the harmful aggregation mechanism into a controlled drying process that produces a redispersible powder, turning what was previously a harmful effect into a useful outcome.
3Productivity
If existing drying techniques are used, then nanocellulose can be dried, but specialized equipment and high energy consumption are required
Solution Approach 1:
The drying assistant substance acts as a disposable additive that enables conventional drying equipment to effectively dry nanocellulose. Instead of requiring expensive specialized drying equipment, the invention uses a relatively simple chemical additive that can be used with standard drying equipment, significantly reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining drying efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The drying assistant substance mediates between the nanocellulose and conventional drying equipment, allowing standard equipment to perform the drying function that previously required specialized apparatus. This intermediary enables the use of simple, widely-available drying equipment while achieving the complex task of drying nanocellulose without aggregation.
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 solution enables the production of redispersible, dried nanocellulose materials with improved dispersibility, reducing energy costs and eliminating the need for specialized equipment, thus expanding their applications in composite products.
Implementation Method 1
temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives, and blocking agents to prevent aggregation during drying
Implementation Method 2
temperature-responsive polymers
Implementation Method 3
The alternating orientation of the hydroxyl groups along the length of the cellulose molecule allows one strand of cellulose to form hydrogen bonds readily with adjacent strands of the polymer
Implementation Method 4
blocking agents to prevent aggregation during drying
Implementation Method 5
redispersion in aqueous media
Implementation Method 6
redispersible, dried nanocellulose materials with improved dispersibility
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides formulations comprising a suspension of nanocellulose (NC) elements and a drying/dispersal additive selected from the group consisting of temperature-responsive polymers, small molecule additives in volatile systems, and blocking agents and methods of preparing such formulations, and further provides NC-containing materials, composite materials and useful articles of manufacture made therefrom.