TAPPI Nano Student Committee Coffee Break

Presentation Title: Why does nanocellulose sometimes seem antisocial?

In this coffee break, I will present results generated during lab sessions by undergraduates in my papermaking chemistry course at North Carolina State University. When I started working with others at NCSU on this topic, I thought that we could add nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) to the wet end to increase paper strength without hurting drainage. Initial results showed that we were able to maintain good drainage. But the resulting paper was no stronger than control sheets that contained no NFC. We had a theory: If only we applied enough hydrodynamic shear, we could get the strength back. We tried that. It didn’t work. So we decided to use the microscope. We found that nanofibrillated cellulose, after treatment with certain chemicals, tends to roll itself up into elongated balls. These balls appear to just keep to themselves rather than contributing to the strength of paper. My question to you, after you hear the talk, is, can we figure out a way to get around this problem?

Dept. of Forest Biomaterials 
NC State University
Co-editor: BioResources.com

Martin Hubbe teaches and does research in the areas of colloidal chemistry and papermaking technology in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University.  He also serves as founding co-editor of the scientific journal BioResources, which provides open-access content related to the science of cellulose-based materials and related products. His educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Colby College in Maine (1976), a master’s degree from the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Wisconsin (1979), and a Ph.D. from Clarkson University, in Potsdam, New York (1984).  Following graduation, he got hired by American Cyanamid Co., where he conducted research related to alkaline sizing systems.  In 1986 he joined International Paper’s central research facility, where he led product development projects.  Since joining NC State University in 1998, he has conducted research and published articles related to paper strength, electrokinetic tests, flocculation, and dewatering.  He also chaired TAPPI’s “Introduction to Wet-End Chemistry” short course for 18 years. The Papermaking Additives Committee has been the focus of his participation in TAPPI.  Some recent contributions to TAPPI include the editing of three books on papermaking chemistry themes, some webinars, and a series of TAPPI Journal articles featuring results from undergraduate laboratory research.