Nanoindentation of single pulp fibre cell walls

Unrefined chemical pulps of bleached and unbleached softwood (Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris) and hardwood (Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus globulus) were subjected to indentation tests using a nanoindenter equipped with an AFM scanner. Tests on unbleached pulps revealed no difference in hardness values between softwood and hardwood, but bleaching treatment decreased the hardness values of both pulps. Indentation modulus of 12 GPa was observed for unbleached softwood pulps, which is 25% higher than unbleached hardwood pulps. Bleaching treatment again decreased the indentation modulus of the softwood pulps, whereas it slightly increased the indentation modulus of the hardwood pulps. After bleaching and drying processes, only negligible difference was observed in cell wall mechanical properties (hardness and indentation modulus) between hardwood and softwood pulps. This study is based on latewood pulp fibres.     

Synthesis of SiC nanorods from bleached wood pulp

Unbleached and bleached soft wood pulps have been used as templates and carbon precursors to produce SiC nanorods. Hydrolyzed tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), silicic acid was infiltrated into the pulps followed by a carbothermal reduction to form SiC nanorods at 1400 °C in Ar. Residual carbon formed along with SiC was removed by gasification at 700 °C in air. The SiC materials prepared from unbleached pulp were non-uniform SiC with a thick SiO₂ coating, while the SiC nanorods prepared from the bleached pulp were uniform and straight with dimensions of 250 nm in diameter and 5.0 mm long. The formation of uniform camelback structure of SiC in the reaction between silica and bleached pulp is attributed to more silica deposited in the amorphous region of cellulose.     

超声波预处理对速生材木浆纤维结构的影响

利用扫描电镜、Ｘ－射线衍射、傅利叶变换红外光谱等现代测试分析手段,探讨了超声波处理马尾松、尾叶按两种速生材木浆纤维过程中,形态结构、超微结构、超分子结构、对试剂可及度的变化。结果表明,超声处理后木浆纤维壁出现裂纹、细胞壁发生位移和变形、有更多的次性壁中层（Ｓ２）暴露出来,处理后的木浆纤维仍保持原有的纤维素晶型和两相共存的微细结构,晶粒尺寸的基本不变。结晶变化与超声处理的条件有关,超声波处理后,纤维     

Experimental investigation on bending fatigue failure of corrugated paperboard

A series of 3‐point bending fatigue tests were conducted to investigate the bending fatigue behaviour of flute type B and C corrugated paperboard samples under cyclic loading. The S‐N curve was obtained. The fatigue failure of corrugated paperboard may be described by both Basquin‐type and exponential‐type S‐N curves; however, the exponential‐type S‐N curve is more appropriate. The stiffness is gradually degraded with almost same energy dissipation in most stress cycles, but it decreases abruptly with the enlarged energy dissipation when the testing cycle is very close to the ultimate cycles of fatigue failure. The corrugated board deforms constantly under the action of cyclic loading, and no visible crack appears. The fatigue failure modes and mechanisms are same for the corrugated boards with B‐flute and C‐flute; however, the S‐N curve of corrugated board is closely related to the flute structure. The results obtained in this paper may be applied to the dynamic design and accelerated vibration test of stacked corrugated boxes.     

钙塑瓦楞复合纸板性能的实验研究

钙塑瓦楞纸板是将普通瓦楞纸板的芯纸替换为钙塑材料而成,该材料除普通瓦楞纸板的优点外,还具有强度高、防潮等性能。通过实验方法,对3层钙塑瓦楞复合纸板平压强度、边压强度和戳穿强度进行了测试分析,同时将钙塑瓦楞复合纸板与普通5层瓦楞纸板性能进行了对比。结果表明,3层钙塑瓦楞复合纸板的边压强度为0.650 kN,平压强度为1.274 kN,戳穿强度为7.5 J;5层瓦楞纸板的边压强度为0.378 kN,平压强度为0.437 kN,戳穿强度为6.75 J。为该新材料的推广使用提供了依据。     

Prediction of bending strength of long corrugated boxes

Long corrugated boxes were supported at both ends and bent by a concentrated force applied at the middle. Boxes with different lengths, cross‐sectional shapes, flute directions and board strengths were tested, using a standard compression tester with a fixed platen in accordance with ASTM D‐642. An equation was developed to relate compression strength to the various properties of the box. The correlation coefficient R² for the fit to actual data was about 0.4. Boxes having the flutes run around the box had a 20% higher compression strength than with horizontal flutes. The most significant factor was found to be the board edge crush strength. The results suggest that failure of boxes in bending is due to localized crushing at the point of application of the load, rather than whole‐box collapse. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

溶解浆纤维增强缓冲材料的制备及其性能研究

随着日益增长的环保要求,来源于植物源的可降解缓冲包装材料的使用和开发引起了广泛的关注。鉴于此,本文以3种不同植物源的商业溶解浆为原料,基于其在NaOH/尿素水溶液中的溶解,通过模塑成型-再生进行了溶解浆纤维增强缓冲包装材料的制备研究。通过模塑成型材料干燥前后径向与厚度方向尺寸的测量,比较了不同助剂制备的缓冲材料的径向收缩率与厚度方向的收缩率,借助扫描电镜观察了制备的材料的断面形貌,通过拉伸试验绘制应力-应变曲线来分析浆纤维缓冲材料的力学性能,通过振动缓冲性能测试比较了制备的材料的振动缓冲性能。结果表明在7%NaOH/12%尿素水溶液中溶解和在99.5%CH3COOH中再生制备的材料比较柔软、再生容易。另外阔叶木溶解浆纤维制备的缓冲材料较硬,针叶木溶解浆纤维制备的缓冲材料和添加淀粉的竹溶解浆纤维制备的缓冲材料具备一定的振动缓冲性能。添加淀粉制备的竹溶解浆纤维缓冲材料的径向收缩率和厚度方向收缩率都是较小的,且有35%的延伸率。     

Flexural stiffness of selected corrugated structures

Top‐to‐bottom compression strength of a corrugated fibreboard box is partly dependent on the load‐carrying ability of central panel areas of the box. The ability of these central panel areas to resist a bending force from loading may increase the stacking strength of the box. The difference in the compression strengths of boxes that have identical dimensions and were fabricated with identical components but different flute types, is primarily caused by flexural stiffness of the box panels. Top‐to‐bottom compression strength of boxes can be accurately predicted by flexural stiffness measurements and edge crush test (ECT) of the combined boards. This study was carried out to analyse the flexural stiffness, to measure bending force and bending deflection by a four‐point bending test for various corrugated fibreboards, and to provide the major constructional factors which play a role in improving the compression strength of the box. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A non-solvent approach for high-stiffness all-cellulose biocomposites based on pure wood cellulose

All-cellulose composites are commonly prepared using cellulose solvents. In this study, moldable all-cellulose I wood fiber materials of high cellulose purity (97%) were successfully compression molded. Water is the only processing aid. The material is interesting as a “green” biocomposite for industrial applications. Dissolving wood fiber pulps (Eucalyptus hardwood and conifer softwood) are used and the influence of pulp origin, beating and pressing temperature (20–180 °C) on supramolecular cellulose nanostructure is studied by solid state CP/MAS ¹³C NMR. Average molar mass is determined by SEC to assess process degradation effects. Mechanical properties are determined in tensile tests. High-density composites were obtained with a Young’s modulus of up to 13 GPa. In addition, nanoscale cellulose fibril aggregation was confirmed due to processing, and resulted in a less moisture sensitive material.     

热水预抽提对竹子硫酸盐纸浆无元素氯漂白性能的影响

本文选用箱3种热水预抽提H-因子(0、500和1 000)和合适的蒸煮有效碱用量,得到卡伯值相近(20)的3种竹子硫酸盐纸浆(KP浆);然后,采用DQP(二氧化氯漂、螯合处理、过氧化氢漂)漂序,通过变化二氧化氯用量和过氧化氢用量,对比漂白浆的白度、返黄值、卡伯值降低率、黏度。发现热水预抽提可以提高纸浆漂白过程的卡伯值降低率;相同总有效氯因子下,漂后浆的白度较高,返黄值较低,黏度相近;达到相同白度(85%ISO)可节省约1.4%的总有效氯用量,然而返黄值略高。     

The fracture of wood under torsional loading

A series of experiments have been carried out on hardwood (red lauan) and softwood (sitka spruce) test pieces using static and cyclic torsional loading under displacement control. Measurements of the applied torque, the corresponding angle of twist and the number of cycles to failure were recorded. It was found that under static torsional loading, the strength of both hardwood and softwood reduced as the grain orientation of the sample to the axis of twist increased from 0° to 90° with a corresponding decrease of elastic modulus. Hardwood is stronger than softwood. In the fatigue test, when the torsional load is plotted against cycle number, the results showed that under displacement control stress relaxation occurs. The S–N curve for softwood has a shallower gradient than that of hardwood, indicating that the torsional strength of softwood is less affected by fatigue loading than hardwood. In both static and cyclic torsional loading tests, the failure mode of hardwood is slow and incomplete, whereas, softwood fails suddenly and completely. The crack growth is along the tangential direction in the hardwood cross-section and in the radial direction in the cross-section.     

Functional performance of silicified microcrystalline cellulose versus microcrystalline cellulose: a case study

Background: During the development of a tablet dosage form of an investigational compound, R411, several aspects were identified as critical quality attributes that required optimization. The use of nonsolvent processing prevented the moisture-induced physical changes in the drug product but presented manufacturing challenges related to sticking during compression and slowdown in dissolution after storage at stress conditions. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate silicified microcrystalline cellulose (SMCC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and physical mixture of MCC–colloidal silicon dioxide (MCC/CSD at 98:2 ratio) as extragranular compression aids to address the processing and dissolution stability issues of this formulation. Methods: The compactibility and stickiness upon compression over extended period of time as well as the dissolution of R411 formulations incorporating the aforementioned compression aids were investigated. In addition, the water sorption/desorption properties of these compression aids were determined. Results: All formulations showed comparable compactibility irrespective of the compression aid used. Nevertheless, MCC alone or in a physical mixture with CSD showed sticking of the lower punches, whereas SMCC resulted in clean punch surface during extended compression runs. Furthermore, the three compression aids were compared for their effect on dissolution stability after storage at stress conditions. The formulations containing SMCC provided superior dissolution stability over the other compression aids evaluated in the study. Conclusions: Novel functionalities of SMCC are presented in terms of sticking prevention while having the most beneficial effect on dissolution stability in R411 formulation.     

Fabrication and characterization of fully biodegradable natural fiber-reinforced poly(lactic acid) composites

Polymer composites were fabricated with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and cellulosic natural fibers combining the wet-laid fiber sheet forming method with the film stacking composite-making process. The natural fibers studied included hardwood high yield pulp, softwood high yield pulp, and bleached kraft softwood pulp fibers. Composite mechanical and thermal properties were characterized. The incorporation of pulp fibers significantly increased the composite storage moduli and elasticity, promoted the cold crystallization and recrystallization of PLA, and dramatically improved composite tensile moduli and strengths. The highest composite tensile strength achieved was 121 MPa, nearly one fold higher than that of the neat PLA. The overall fiber efficiency factors for composite tensile strengths derived from the micromechanics models were found to be much higher than that of conventional random short fiber-reinforced composites, suggesting the fiber–fiber bond also positively contributed to the composites’ strengths.     

Rigid polyurethane foam/cellulose whisker nanocomposites: preparation, characterization, and properties

Novel rigid polyurethane nanocomposite foams have been prepared by the polymerization of a sucrose-based polyol, a glycerol-based polyol and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate in the presence of cellulose whiskers. Varying amounts of sulfuric acid hydrolyzed cellulose whiskers (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 wt%) prepared from a commercial fully bleached softwood kraft pulp were incorporated to investigate the effect of its dosage on the mechanical and thermal properties of polyurethane nanocomposites. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the nanocomposite foams suggested that additional hydrogen bonds were developed and crosslinking occurred between the hydroxyl groups of cellulose whiskers and isocyanate groups which increased the phase separation of soft and hard segments in the polyurethane. The closed cells of control foam and nanocomposite foams were homogeneously dispersed and the cell sizes were approximately 350 microm in diameter as observed by scanning electron microscope. A substantial improvement of mechanical properties at low whisker content (< or = 1.00 wt%) was obtained, especially the compressive strength and modulus at 1.00 wt% whiskers content which were increased by 269.7% and 210.0%, respectively. Thermal stability of the nanocomposites was also enhanced as determined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis.     

阻燃改性纤维素浆粕和阻燃纸的制备及表征

将降纤维素浆粕在不同温度下进行碱化、醚化,得到不同Na+含量的阻燃改性纤维素浆粕。利用红外光谱、极限氧指数、锥形量热和扫描电镜等测试方法,对改性纤维素浆粕的燃烧和阻燃性能进行了研究。结果表明,改性纤维素浆粕的最大氧指数达到34.0,远远高于纤维素的氧指数19.0,并且改性纤维素浆粕的总热释放量最小值为6.74 MJ/m2,远远低于纤维素的总热释放量20.44 MJ/m2。同时通过造纸工艺制备了海藻酸钙纤维-改性纤维素浆粕复合阻燃纸张,并利用极限氧指数、锥形量热和扫描电镜等测试方法,对复合纸的燃烧和阻燃性能进行了研究。     

不同铺层方式下连续玻璃纤维/聚丙烯复合材料波纹夹芯板的力学性能

制备了多种铺层方式的连续玻璃纤维/聚丙烯（GF/PP）复合材料波纹夹芯板,并研究了GF/PP复合材料波纹夹芯板的平压性能和弯曲性能。结果显示:面板相同时,增加芯板厚度可大大增加夹芯板整体的平压性能;芯板相同时,面板的铺层方式对夹芯板的平压性能有一定影响,且面板含有0°和90°铺层的波纹夹芯板具有最高的平压模量,为59.55 MPa,而单纯增加面板厚度对提升波纹夹芯板的平压性能影响不大;面板铺层方式对弯曲性能具有较大影响,面板为0°铺层的波纹夹芯板具有最高的横向弯曲模量,为783.66 MPa,面板为90°铺层的波纹夹芯板具有最高的纵向弯曲模量,为732.09 MPa;面板为单向铺层（0°或90°铺层）时,会使夹芯板另一方向（纵向或横向）的弯曲性能形成短板。      

Converting cracks in corrugated board. Effect of liner and fluting properties

The crack propagation that occurs in corrugated board in connection with die cutting is analysed in order to identify the most crucial liner and fluting parameters and clarify their relative importance. Based on an energy approach and the brittleness concept — L_c^-1(m^-1) — for the liner, a formula is derived. This formula is then verified exeprimentally for a large number of corrugated board qualities of different thicknesses and flat crush strengths as well as for liners with widely differing mechanical properties. The correlation can be regarded as very good. The analysis shows that crack propagation is dependent on three material parameters —the brittleness of the liner, the compression strength of the fluting in relation to the tensile strength of the liner and the breaking strain of the liner. It is shown that crack propagation increases proportionally with increasing liner brittleness, provided that the other material parameters remain unchanged. The compression strength of the fluting layer contributes somewhat more than proportionally — by a power of 1.33. The crack propagation decreases with increased breaking strain, the relation is almost inversely proportional. In practice, none of the above mentioned liner parameters car. be chosen independently of the others. The same applies to the fluting parameters. When estimating the expected crack propagation in a particular corrugated board quality, it is necessary to consider the contribution from all the mentioned parameters according to the formula.     

High‐Tech‐Cellulose‐Funktionspolymere nach dem ALCERU®‐Verfahren

Functional High‐Tech‐Cellulose materials by the ALCERU® process Cellulose is one of the eldest materials of mankind. While the use of cellulose in former times was focused on application as a more construction or as a more textile material at present time the application profile turns to a more functional material using the ALCERU® process. Shaping of pure cellulose dissolution in NMMNO permits the manufacturing of materials for upholstery, filtration or biodegradable film strips having an uniform cross section. Fibreds, which can be applied in several packaging materials, are available using different techniques for regeneration cellulose. A great field of innovative functional cellulose materials is opened up by addition of several functional additives to cellulose dissolution. In this way piezo‐electrical conductive cellulose fibres (PZT) or high‐temperature filtration membranes are to be generated if one adds special types of ceramic powders. Above all PZT green fibres are applied in more recent uses as sensors or actuators. Electrically conductive cellulose fibres or filaments, which can be also used in the textile chain, can be prepared adding conductive carbon black to a cellulose dope on the same way, too. Cellulose material having adapted conductivity to different application is available by adding an exact defined amount of carbon black to cellulose dissolution. Finally cellulose beads can be manufactured by means of varied shaping technique. The beads are showing variable particle sizes and narrow pore size distribution. These properties open up very interesting application in the field of human blood purification or chromatography.     

Composites of Bacterial Cellulose and Small Molecule‐Decorated Gold Nanoparticles for Treating Gram‐Negative Bacteria‐Infected Wounds

Bacterial infections, especially multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections, are an increasingly serious problem in the field of wound healing. Herein, bacterial cellulose (BC) decorated by 4,6‐diamino‐2‐pyrimidinethiol (DAPT)‐modified gold nanoparticles (Au‐DAPT NPs) is presented as a dressing (BC‐Au‐DAPT nanocomposites) for treating bacterially infected wounds. BC‐Au‐DAPT nanocomposites have better efficacy (measured in terms of reduced minimum inhibition concentration) than most of the antibiotics (cefazolin/sulfamethoxazole) against Gram‐negative bacteria, while maintaining excellent physicochemical properties including water uptake capability, mechanical strain, and biocompatibility. On Escherichia coli‐ or Pseudomonas aeruginosa‐infected full‐thickness skin wounds on rats, the BC‐Au‐DAPT nanocomposites inhibit bacterial growth and promote wound repair. Thus, the BC‐Au‐DAPT nanocomposite system is a promising platform for treating superbug‐infected wounds.     

Sensitive Humidity‐Driven Reversible and Bidirectional Bending of Nanocellulose Thin Films as Bio‐Inspired Actuation

Inspired by plant movements caused by water swelling and deswelling within nano‐ and mesoscale cellulose fibrillar structures, asymmetric exposure of water vapors to thin films of nanofibrillated cellulose, NFC (also denoted as microfibrillated cellulose, MFC, or native cellulose nanofibers, CNF) is here shown to induce humidity‐controlled reversible actuation. The extent of the bending depends on the humidity difference across the film. A steady‐state bending is reached within a fraction of minute upon continued humidity exposure, and the film relaxes back upon removing the imposed humidity. The bending curvature becomes reduced when the film thickness increases, thus explaining that the effect is not observable in classic paper sheets, which are much thicker due to their constituent macroscopic thicker cellulose fibers. The bending is highly sensitive to humidity, as demonstrated by the observation that the film bends even based on the small humidity of human hand from a distance of several millimeters. Such a bending of a cellulose nanofiber film offers a particularly simple route toward biomimetic actuation and novel types of active material.