Per Larsson

In this research, we developed dialcohol‑modified cellulose fibres to enable thermoplastic behaviour and high‑performance material properties. We propose a core–shell architecture in these fibres, allowing us to form high‑density, transparent, oxygen‑barrier films through conventional papermaking, with tensile strengths up to 100 MPa and strain‑at‑break values of 44%. We also showed that the films can be hot‑pressed into smooth, fully fused structures, making them suitable for advanced 3D‑formed packaging applications. [2016 Green...apermaking | PDF]

A central part of our work demonstrates that dialcohol‑modified fibres can be melt‑processed using only water as a plasticiser, producing filaments with exceptional ductility—up to 67% strain‑at‑break—while remainingrecyclable via standard repulping. We further showed that these fibres can be extruded and injection‑moulded at very high fibre loadings, including polymer‑free melt processing when conditioned at high humidity. [2025 Carbo...only water | PDF] [2023 Chemi...replacing | PDF]

To demonstrate industrial relevance, we produced injection‑moulded bottle caps containing 80% modified fibres, which exhibited oxygen‑barrier properties surpassing low‑density polyethylene even at elevated humidity. Together, these results highlight cellulose‑based thermoplastics as viable alternatives to fossil‑derived plastics in complex 3D applications. [2023 Chemi...replacing | PDF]

CV in short

1999 – 2004
MSc in Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

2005 – 2010
PhD in Pulp and Paper Chemistry and Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

2010 – 2011
Postdoctoral researcher at McGill University and FPInnovations, Montréal, Canada

2011 –
Researcher, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

2020
Docent (Reader) in Fibre- and polymer technology with specialisation in fibre-based materials, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden