Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of cellulose microfibril (CMF) addition on strength properties of middle ply of board

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Cellulose Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cellulose microfibrils (CMF) are a promising biobased material with unique nanospecific properties, giving them potential for use in numerous applications. Based on this, cost-effective and novel high-consistency enzymatic fibrillation (HefCel) technology was used to produce CMF, which was further used to reinforce middle ply of board structure and the results compared with those obtained without CMF addition and with addition of CMF produced by traditional Masuko grinding (VTT Native grade). The results showed an average increase in tensile index of middle ply of board of approximately 50% with VTT Native grade and approximately 15% with HefCel grade at 3% CMF dosage. According to special board measurements, ~100% improvement in Scott bond, ~117% improvement in Z-directional strength, as well as ~13% improvement in bending stiffness were achieved with VTT Native grade compared with the reference case, while addition of HefCel resulted in improvements of ~35% in Scott bond, ~40% in Z-directional strength, and ~20% in bending stiffness. Addition of HefCel CMF generated a bulkier handsheet structure compared with VTT Native CMF, which had a direct impact on the bending stiffness. The differences in the strengthening effect between HefCel CMF and VTT Native CMF are most probably due to the fibril morphology; VTT Native CMF with long and flexible fibrils provided tensile strength, while HefCel CMF consisting of short fibrils had a more substantial impact on the bending stiffness. The bending stiffness is one of the most important characteristics in board applications, indicating that HefCel CMF has potential for use as a reinforcement material in packaging applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahola S, Österberg M, Laine J (2008) Cellulose nanofibrils—adsorption with poly(amidamine) epichlorohydrin studied by QCM-D and application as paper strength additive. Cellulose 15:303–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alen R (2007) Papermaking science and technology, paper making chemistry, Fapet Oy, Helsinki, Chapter 2 and 3

  • Brodin FW, Gregersen ØW, Syverud K (2014) Cellulose nanofibrils: challenges and possibilities as a paper additive or coating material—a review. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 29(1):156–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chun Tao D (2000) Optimization of bending stiffness of folding boxboard. Asian Institute of Technology, Pulp and Paper Technology, School of Environment, Resources and Development

  • Dimic-Misic K (2014) Micro and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) as additive in complex suspensions: influence on rheology and dewatering. Department of Forest Products Technology. Aalto University publication series doctoral dissertations, 73/2014

  • Dimic-Misic K, Puisto A, Paltakari J, Alava M, Maloney T (2013) The influence of shear on the dewatering of high consistency nanofibrillated cellulose furnishes. Cellulose 20:1853–1864

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Djafari Petroudy SR, Syverud K, Chinga-Carrasco G, Ghasemain A, Resalati H (2014) Effects of bagasse microfibrillated cellulose and cationic polyacrylamide on key properties of bagasse paper. Carbohydr Polym 99:311–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen Ø, Syverud K, Gregersen Ø (2008) The use of microfibrillated cellulose produced from kraft pulp as strength enhancer in TMP paper. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 23:299–304

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat, Industrial electricity price in Finland in 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Electricity_price_statistics. Accessed 10 June 2016

  • Future Markets (2015) Nanocellulose. The Global Market, 7th edn. Future Markets Inc., Dublin

    Google Scholar 

  • González I, Boufi S, Pèlach MA, Alcalà M, Vilaseca F, Mutje P (2012) Nanofibrillated cellulose as paper additive in Eucalyptus pulps. Bioresources 7(4):5167–5180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González I, Vilaseca F, Alcalá M, Pèlach MA, Boufi S, Mutjé P (2013) Effect of combination of biobeating and NFC on the physico-mechanical properties of paper. Cellulose 20:1425–1435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González I, Alcalà M, Chinga-Carrasco G, Vilaseca F, Boufi S, Mutjé P (2014) From paper to nanopaper: evolution of mechanical and physical properties. Cellulose 21:2599–2609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henriksson M, Berglund LA, Isaksson P, Lindström T, Nishino T (2008) Cellulose nanopaper structures of high toughness. Biomacromolecules 9:1579–1585

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herrick FW, Casebier RL, Hamilton JK, Sandberg KR (1983) Microfibrillated cellulose: morphology and accessibility. J Appl Polym Sci: Appl Polym Symp 37:797–813

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hietala M, Ämmälä A, Silvennoinen J, Liimatainen H (2016) Fluting medium strengthened by periodate-chlorite oxidized nanofibrillated celluloses. Cellulose 23:427–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hii C, Gregersen ØW, Chinga-Carrasco G, Eriksen Ø (2012) The effect of MFC on the pressability and paper properties of TMP and GCC based sheets. Nord Pulp Paper Res J 27(2):388–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiltunen J, Kemppainen K, Pere J (2015) Process for producing fibrillated cellulose material. WO2015092146 A1

  • Hytönen E, Leppävuori J, Future Biorefinery (FuBio) research into process concepts—early stage process evaluation and screening (2014) 5th Nordic Wood Biorefinery Conference. 25–27 March, Stockholm

  • Iwamoto S, Kai W, Isogai A, Iwata T (2009) Elastic modulus of single cellulose microfibrils from tunicate measured by atomic force microscopy. Biomacromolecules 10:2571–2576

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kajanto I, Kosonen M (2012) The potential use of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose as a reinforcing element in paper and board based packaging. 2012 Tappi International Conference on Renewable Materials. 5–7 June, Montreal

  • Kangas H, Lahtinen P, Sneck A, Saariaho A-M, Laitinen O, Hellen E (2014a) Characterization of fibrillated celluloses. A short review and evaluation of characteristics with a combination of methods. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 29(1):129–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kangas P, Kaijaluoto S, Määttänen M (2014b) Evaluation of future pulp mill concepts—reference model of a modern Nordic kraft pulp mill. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 29(4):620–634

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahtinen P, Liukkonen S, Pere J, Sneck A, Kangas H (2014) A comparative study of fibrillated fibers from different mechanical and chemical pulps. BioResources 9:2115–2127

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavoine N, Desloges I, Dufresne A, Bras J (2012) Microfibrillated cellulose, their barrier properties and applications in cellulosic materials: a review. Carbohydr Res 90:735–764

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niskanen K (2008) Papermaking science and technology, Paper Physics, Fapet Oy, Helsinki, Chapter 6

  • Osong SH, Norgren S, Engstrand P (2016) Processing of wood-based microfibrillated cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose, and applications relating to papermaking: a review. Cellulose 23:93–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rantanen J, Maloney TC (2013) Press dewatering and nip rewetting of paper containing nano- and microfibril cellulose. Nordic Pulp Pap Res J 28(4):582–587

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Retulainen E, Luukko K, Fagerholm K, Pere J, Laine J, Paulapuro H (2002) Papermaking quality of fines from different pulps—the effect of size, shape and chemical composition. Appita J 55(6):457–467

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • RISI (2014) Nanocellulose: technology, applications and markets. Special markets analysis study. RISI Inc., Brussels

    Google Scholar 

  • Sehaqui H, Zhou Q, Ikkala O, Berglund LA (2011) Strong and tough cellulose nanopaper with high specific surface area and porosity. Biomacromolecules 12:3638–3644

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taipale T, Österberg M, Nykänen A, Ruokolainen J, Laine J (2010) Effect of microfibrillated cellulose and fines on the drainage of kraft pulp suspension and paper strength. Cellulose 17:1005–1020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turbak AF, Snyder FW, Sandberg KR (1983) Microfibrillated cellulose, a new cellulose product: properties, uses and commercial potential. J Appl Polym Sci: Appl Polym Symp 37:815–827

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang QQ, Zhu JY, Gleisner R, Kuster TA, Baxa U, McNeil SE (2012) Morphological development of cellulose fibrils of a bleached eucalyptus pulp by mechanical fibrillation. Cellulose 19:1631–1643

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results was financed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. Asko Sneck is acknowledged for the FE-SEM images presented in this paper, and Mari Leino for the pulp charge density measurements.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Jyväskylä, Finland

    J. Lehmonen

  2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Espoo, Finland

    J. Pere, E. Hytönen & H. Kangas

Authors
  1. J. Lehmonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Pere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Hytönen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Kangas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. Kangas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lehmonen, J., Pere, J., Hytönen, E. et al. Effect of cellulose microfibril (CMF) addition on strength properties of middle ply of board. Cellulose 24, 1041–1055 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1146-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1146-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation