Process and product developments through unique knowledge of wood fibre ultrastructure
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet - Wood Ultrastructure Research Centre |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 11 200 000 |
| Project duration | January 2008 - December 2012 |
| Status | Completed |
Purpose and goal
The program should significantly contribute to the realization of new value-added fibre products, new uses of fibres and more energy efficient processes by improved understanding of fibre ultrastructure.
Results and expected effects
New and industrially applicable methods for profiling fibre nano-environments of functional fibre surfaces; Increased paper strength by defining optimal ultrastructure of fibre walls; New ways of beating chemical pulps to meet end-user demands; More competitive paper products by controlling hygroexpansivity and mechano-sorptive creep; Identification of ultrastructural features affecting important fibre engineering properties; reduced energy costs and improved product properties by understanding changes taking place in chemical and mechanical pulp fibres during industrial processing.
Approach and implementation
Chemical pulps include subprojects: Analytical tools for designing functional fibre surfaces; Kraft pulps with higher strength potential; Improved fibre beating processes; Reduced mechano-sorptive creep and hygroexpansion; Prediction of engineering properties of fibre-based products. Mechanical pulps include: Why does energy efficiency vary depending on process and raw materials?; and new methods for fibre separation and fibre development that reduce energy consumption. Program will include close networking of leading scientists from Universities/Institute with industry partners.