The vision is to design a hierarchical model material with cellulose fibres for biomaterials applications and should be relevant for both diffusion and flow studies. Our goal is to find a material with nano and micro fibre cellulose and colloidal gel with tuneable mass transport properties. Three model systems with nano-cellulose of different origins mixed with к-carrageen at different concentration have been prepared. We have used nano-celluloses (NCC) and micro-fibrillar cellulose (MFC). The materials displayed structures associated to incorporation of cellulose with different sizes or/and к-carrageen, fibre and salt interaction. The characteristic size of the structures increases with the cellulose concentration. The research is performed in cooperation with Södra and with the Department for applied surface chemistry at Chalmers. Future prospects: A common model system for hierarchical biomaterials is important for the SuMo Bio¬materials competence centre as a reference for mass transport studies of all other systems. Detailed knowledge of a system based on nano-cellulose also gives prospects of specific applications in the areas of the participating companies, leading to new innovations. Companies involved: SCA Hygiene Products, Södra, AstraZeneca and Tetra Pak.
Contact: amh at chalmers dot se