Mechanisms promoting self-spinning of sub-micrometer continuous filaments from nanofibres

With the global quest for sustainability, there is a strong drive for developing bio-based alternatives to today´s materials, not only to replace fossil-based materials but also to provide future materials with new and advanced functionalities.

Cellulose nanofibrils, nature´s super-strong nanofibrillar building block could provide the necessary means for the sustainable materials of tomorrow.This proposed project has the purpose to elucidate how nanoscale assembly of high-aspect-ratio semi-flexible nanofibril particles can be achieved at concentrations where intermolecular forces are balanced by the mechanical flexibility of nanofibrils.

Although the main focus is biopolymer nanofibril-based materials, the general aim of the project is to develop a future technology toolbox for general flow-induced self-assembly structural control of nanofibrillar systemsThe project aims at developing technologies for controlling the assembly of nanofibrils, specifically cellulose nanofibrils, in dispersions by understanding and controlling the governing mechanisms.

This will be achieved by investigating how confinement and imposed flow-fields (shear) interacts with Brownian motion for nanofibrillar dispersions at various concentrations. The ultimate goal is to provoke "liquid crystalline states" with a highly aligned and ordered nanofibrillar system.