An illustration of a single cellulose nanocrystal and
cross-section
New computational approach allows researchers to design
cellulose nanocomposites with optimal properties
(October 3, 2015) Theoretically,
nanocellulose could be the next hot supermaterial.
A class of biological materials found within numerous
natural systems, most notably trees, cellulose nanocrystals have captured
researchers’ attention for their extreme strength, toughness, light weight, and
elasticity. The materials are so strong and tough, in fact, that many people
think they could replace Kevlar in ballistic vests and combat helmets for
military. Unlike their source material (wood), cellulose nanocrystals are
transparent, making them exciting candidates for protective eyewear, windows,
or displays.
Although there is a lot of excitement around the idea of
nanocellulose-based materials, the reality often falls flat.
“It’s difficult to make these theoretical properties
materialize in experiments,” said Northwestern Engineering’s Sinan Keten.
“Researchers will make composite materials with nanocellulose and find that
they fall short of theory.”
Keten, an assistant professor of mechanical, civil, and
environmental engineering at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of
Engineering, and his team are bringing the world one step closer to a
materials-by-design approach toward developing nanocomposites with cellulose.
They have developed a novel, multi-scale computational framework that explains
why these experiments do not produce the ideal material and proposes solutions
for fixing these shortcomings, specifically by modifying the surface chemistry
of cellulose nanocrystals to achieve greater hydrogen bonding with polymers.