Click to enlarge the image

Technologies aiming at the extraction and the synthesis of lignocellulosic fibers and their transformation into fiber based webs or textiles are considered in this section. 

In fiber based web technologies a uniform web is formed in paper/board machine. The paper machine has three major components – the base sheet forming section, the press section and the drying section. After drying the paper can be calendered, coated and finally printed. Unit operations are principally similar for all paper and board grades from thin tissue papers to heavy paperboards.

Recently developed new technology, foam forming, gives exciting opportunities to develop new recyclable and light weight wood fiber products. Examples of those products include e.g. biobased nonwoven webs, filters, insulation materials and cushioning materials in packaging.

Wood cellulose can be used for production of man-made textile fibres. Typically cellulose is dissolved and regenerated into textile fibers by wet-spinning process. The production of the most common regenerated cellulose fiber, viscose, is based on derivation of cellulose using carbon disulphide. Alternative processes of producing fibers from dissolving pulp include commercial Lyocell process (by Lenzing) as well as pilot/lab scale processes, such as cellulose carbamate, Biocelsol and Ioncell. Carbamate and Biocelsol methods are utilizing alkaline water based wet-spinning processes, whereas Lyocell and Ioncell processes are based on changing solvent and using dry-jet-wet-spinning.

Nano and microcelluloses can be manufactured from wood pulps by mechanical treatments. Chemical and enzymatic pretreatments can be applied to ease the fibrillation and to produce nanofibers with smaller width.