Research at the Division of Fibre Technology

The research is mainly focused on a fundamental understanding of how fibre properties can be altered in order to improve existing products or make fibres suitable to fit into new products. The activities are therefore focused both around a fundamental understanding of the fibre structure and fibre surface and on how these properties can be changed. Since recent research has demonstrated the large importance of the external surface of the fibres, a large effort will be made to measure the interaction between thin layers of cellulose, lignin, hemicellulose and different additives. In an extension of this, two new PhD projects aim to develop techniques to alter the fibre and fibre surface properties by different types of polymeric treatments. A co-operation with Midsweden University regarding the use of polyelectrolyte complexes to modify fibre surfaces also fits very well into this effort.

In the area of fibre structure determination, a project is running in co-operation with Midsweden University. It regards the influence of drying and rewetting on the pore structure of the fibres, an important aspect in the use of recycled papers. The methods employed in this work are NMR relaxation and thermoporosimetry applied to a number of well-characterised unbleached kraft fibres.

Projects

Polyelectrolyte complexes Fibrillated cellulose Creep properties of paper Surface modifications of fibre based materials Biointeractive fibres Adhesion between wood biopolymers Free-standing MFC films Improved dimension stability Superhydrophobic surfaces Molecularly tailored MFC Strong cellular materials Fibre-reinforced composites

Earlier projects

Influence of fibre chemistry on the fracture toughness of paper,
Andrew Horvath

Superhydrophobic Cellulose Surfaces
Oskar Werner

Detailed description of how the properties of the components in the interfacial layers will affect the properties of the layers,
Rikard Lingström

Kinetics of reconformation of polyelectrolytes adsorbed to surfaces of opposite charge
Lars-Erik Enarsson

Development of relevant methods to characterize the properties of thin layers of cellulose and polymeric additives
Malin Eriksson

Methods for improving recycled fibres
Peter Josefsson

Fundamental processes behind recycling of paper
Jennie Forsström

Edgewise liquid penetration in multilayered board
Grete Åvitsland