Cellulose composites, WWSC, 2024-2026

Structure-property relations of cellulose fiber composites

The research on cellulose and nanocellulose reinforced composites has reached a point in which it is important to take the next step to create the new generation of sustainable biocomposite materials with properties reaching the needs of more demanding applications. The goal of the project is to gain knowledge of cellulose filaments from wood pulp and their capability to be used as reinforcing fibres in biobased resins to create high-performance biocomposites with mechanical properties at the level of glass fibre composites but with a lighter weight. To reach this, the work includes tailoring the composite structure as well as orientation of the fibres in the direction of the load. The structure and interaction between the filaments and polymer resins are studied using state of art technologies, such as μCT tomography, synchrotron (ForMax), digital image correlation, atomic force microscopy, and high-resolution microscopy.

The project is a part of Wallenberg Wood Science Center 3.0 and a collaboration project between academic partners at the WWSC and financed by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.