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Research at the Division of Fibre Technology

The work in the division is focused on molecular tailoring of fibres and cellulose fibrils and a fundamental characterization of the colloidal chemical behaviour of cellulose nanofibrils. Different modification techniques have been used but the focus has been on physical methodologies which can be used in aqueous media at neutral pH and room temperature.

A large emphasis has been on developing high resolution methodologies for measuring adsorption of polyelectrolytes and adhesion between well characterized model surfaces. In this work we have also been forced to prepare and characterize model surfaces of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin and together with the new measuring technologies we have been able to molecularly tailor the surface properties of fibre and fibrils for different end-use applications.

With these efforts we have been able to create anti-bacterial fibre surfaces, Li-ion batteries and supercapacitors based on fibrils and , super hydrophobic fibre based materials, nanofibrillar foams with controlled porosity and strength and high-strength and high stretch papers just to mention a few new materials. In these latter applications it has been the outspoken strategy to link the modification on a molecular scale to the macroscopic properties of fibre/fibril networks and to create mutual benefits through co-operation projects with other groups at KTH and also with world-leading experts outside KTH.