US Patent:
20230115147, Apr 13, 2023
Inventors:
- West Lafayette IN, US
- Washington DC, US
Gregory T. Schueneman - Madison WI, US
Robert John Moon - Marietta GA, US
Assignee:
Purdue Research Foundation - West Lafayette IN
United States, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture - Washington DC
International Classification:
C08L 1/02
C08J 5/18
D21J 3/00
D21H 11/18
D21H 17/26
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides to a novel continuous processing method to prepare sheets comprising cellulose nanofibril (CNF) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Single screw extrusion was utilized to continuously process mechanically fibrillated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) into sheets. Water-retention ability and stability of CNF suspensions containing different processing aids was assessed through centrifugation and zeta potential analysis. Subsequently, highly loaded pastes (up to 25 wt. % total solids content) containing the best performing processing aids (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xanthan gum (XG), and anionic polyacrylamide (aPAM)) and CNF were prepared using a Brabender with Banbury mixer-head at a dry weight ratio of either 0.1 to 1 or 0.15 to 1, respectively. Validation of the mixing procedure proved that highly loaded CNF pastes can be processed in under 40 minutes, saving up to 40 days in preparation and drying time.