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Properties of lightweight fibrous structures made by a novel foam forming technique

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Abstract

We describe a novel method for the production of lightweight fibrous structures of densities as low as 8.8 kg m\(^{-3}\). The method is based on the use of liquid foam as a carrier medium for dispersed Kraft fibres. Different to the process of foam forming, where the quick removal of the foam results in the formation of thin fibrous sheets, our samples are allowed to slowly drain and dry until all foam has disappeared. This procedure results in bulk samples whose height (up to 25 mm) and density are controlled by initial fibre concentration and liquid fraction of the foam. Above a minimum density, the compression modulus of elasticity of the samples increases linearly with density. Furthermore, we show compressive strength of the structures being controlled via the initial liquid fraction of the foam, making this an important process parameter for the fabrication of such structures.

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Acknowledgments

We thank D. Weaire and J. Ketoja for critical comments in laying out the manuscript. We also thank B. Haffner for his assistance on the project. This publication has emanated from research supported in part by a research grant from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under Grant Number 13/IA/1926. We also acknowledge the support of cost action MP1305 ‘Flowing matter’ and the European Space Agency ESA, Project microG-Foam, AO-99-075 and Contract 4000115113, ‘Soft Matter Dynamics’. T. Hjelt is supported by the Academy of Finland (Project “Surface interactions and rheology of aqueous cellulose-based foams”).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    S. R. Burke, M. E. Möbius & S. Hutzler

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

    T. Hjelt

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  1. S. R. Burke
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  2. M. E. Möbius
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  3. T. Hjelt
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  4. S. Hutzler
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Correspondence to S. R. Burke.

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Burke, S.R., Möbius, M.E., Hjelt, T. et al. Properties of lightweight fibrous structures made by a novel foam forming technique. Cellulose 26, 2529–2539 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2205-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-2205-5

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