The Future of Biocomposites and Nanocellulose

Track Overview

Meisha L. Shofner

Associate Director, Renewable Bioproducts Institute

Associate Professor, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

April 5, 2016

Biocomposites and NanocelluloseDefinitions for This Conference

• Biomaterials: Materials which are derived from natural sources or synthetic materials that replace natural materials in medical applications

• Biocomposites: Composites which contain at least one naturally-sourced component

• Nanocellulose: Materials consisting of nanostructured cellulose (microcrystalline or microfibrils) or nanoscale cellulose (nanocrystals or nanofibrils)

Nanocellulose ProductionCellulose Nanocrystals (kg/day)

CelluForce, Canada 1000

American Process, U.S.A. 500

Holmen (Melodea), Sweden 100

Alberta Innovates, Canada 20

USDA Forest Service – Forest Products Laboratory 10

Blue Goose Refineries, Canada 10

India Council for Ag. Research 10

FPInnovations, Canada 3

Melodea, Israel Pilot

TAPPI Nano Division with Jack Miller – State of the Industry December 2015

Nanocellulose ProductionCellulose Nanofibrils (kg/day)

Paperlogic 2000

University of Maine 1000

Borregaard, Norway 500

American Process, U.S.A. 500

Nippon Paper, Japan 150

Innventia, Sweden 100

CTP/FCBA, France 100

Oji Paper, Japan 100

Pre-commercial, Pilot, or LabStora Enso, Finland; UPM, Finland; FPInnovations, Canada; Norske Skog; SAPPI, Netherlands; VTT; Daicel, Japan; Lulea University of Technology, Sweden; USDA Forest Service – Forest Products Laboratory

TAPPI Nano Division with Jack Miller – State of the Industry December 2015

Current PSE Fellowships concerning biomaterials/composites and nanocellulose

Current PSE Fellowships

PSE Fellowships relating to biomaterials and nanocellulose

Biomaterialsand

Nanocellulose~42%

ME5.5% CHEM

5.5%

ChBE33%

MSE56%

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Planned infrastructure investments to support biocomposite and nanocellulose research

• Production– CNC/CNF processing and purification system

– Spray dryer upgrade

• Characterization– Disc centrifuge

– High pressure rheometer cell

– Total organic carbon analyzer

– Gas permeation measurement station7

Key Strengths at RBI and Georgia Tech Related to Biocomposites and Nanocellulose

• Additive Manufacturing

• Composite and Fiber Processing

• Synthesis and Characterization

• Cooperation with Industry

Images:Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute, Georgia Tech Renewable Bioproducts Institute, Shofner Research Group

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Speakers

Challenges and Opportunities for Nano-Cellulose for Innovative Composite-Based Applications –Dr. Soydan Ozcan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Speakers

Biopolymers as Organizers – Professor Paul Russo, Hightower Chair in Biopolymers, Georgia Institute of Technology, Schools of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemistry and Biochemistry

Speakers

• Lignin-Polyacrylonitrile Blend Carbon Fiber: A Step Toward Green Manufacturing – Clive Liu, School of Materials Science and Engineering

• 3-D Printed Nanocellulose Materials and Their Composites – Vincent Li, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Speakers

Redox-Active Polymers for Electrochromism and Charge Storage: Toward Cellulose-Based Substrates – Professor John Reynolds, Georgia Institute of Technology, Schools of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Materials Science and Engineering, Director of Georgia Tech Polymer Network

End User PanelCellulose Nanomaterials and Biocomposites• Moderator: Dr. Robert Moon, USDA Forest Service - Forest

Products Laboratory

• Dr. Jim Bradbury, Verso

• Sean Ireland, IMERYS

• Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni, PepsiCo

• Professor Kimberly Kurtis, Georgia Tech

• Dr. Soydan Ozcan, ORNL and University of Tennessee, Knoxville