Biocaced nanofibrilated films and yarns via ionic liquids

A new family of materials based on cellulose, cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs), having properties and functionalities distinct from molecular cellulose and wood pulp, is being developed for applications that were once thought impossible for cellulosic materials. In this work, Cellulose nanofiber films (CNFF) or nanopapers, derived from mechanically fibrillated birch kraft fibers, were synthesized and treated via a welding process using protic ionic liquids (PILs). The physical and mechanical properties of the films were measured to assess the effect of the IL treatment on the films. Surface welding of CNFF improved the mechanical performance of the welded films, increasing the average toughness and transparency. In the other hand in this work, we focus on the production of cellulose fibers, mainly the coaxial wet spinning technique is used to improve the spinnability of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNF), using loncell-F® technology, implemented by professor H. Sixta group. CNMs and fibers applications span across various application areas including adhesives, barrier/separation membranes, transparent-flexible electronics, batteries, super-capacitors, continuous fibers, and textiles among others.