The innovative application of nanocellulose in the papermaking industry and technology-driven development

With the advancement of science and technology and the continuous improvement of environmental protection standards, nanocellulose (NFC) as a natural polymer material with excellent performance has become an important innovation in the papermaking industry. Nanocellulose has excellent mechanical strength, water absorption, surface quality improvement functions and green environmental protection characteristics. It has shown great application potential in improving paper performance, optimizing production processes, and promoting sustainable development. This article will discuss in detail the key applications, technological advantages and future development prospects of nanocellulose in the papermaking industry based on relevant literature and data.

1. Improve the mechanical properties of paper: strength enhancement and durability enhancement

Nanocellulose can effectively enhance the mechanical properties of paper due to its ultra-microstructure and extremely high specific surface area. By combining with fibers in the pulp, nanocellulose improves the tensile strength, tear strength and compressive strength of the paper, especially in the production of high-strength paper. Studies have shown that the addition of nanocellulose can significantly increase the mechanical strength of paper. For example, Wang et al. (2018) proposed that the introduction of nanocellulose increases the tensile strength of paper by 20%-40%. The following is the relevant experimental data table:

Performance parameters	No nanocellulose added	After adding nanocellulose
Tensile strength (N/m²)	50-60	70-85
Tear strength (mN·m²)	250-300	350-400
Compressive strength (kPa)	150-200	250-300

References: Wang, W., Zhang, L., & Yu, H. (2018). Nanocellulose in papermaking: Enhancing strength and processability. Carbohydrate Polymers , 198, 159-167.

2. Improve water absorption and permeability: improve paper functionality

Nanocellulose has high hydrophilicity and can significantly improve the water absorption of paper. Studies have shown that the addition of nanocellulose can increase the water absorption rate of paper by about 30%-50%. In paper products with high water absorption requirements such as toilet paper and filter paper, the effect of nanocellulose is particularly obvious. The following are comparative data on the water absorption performance before and after the addition of nanocellulose:

Paper type	Water absorption rate (mL/s)	No nanocellulose added	After adding nanocellulose
toilet paper	0.5	0.45	0.65
filter paper	1.2	1.0	1.6

References: Zhang, Z., & Liu, L. (2017). Enhancement of water retention and absorption of paper by adding nanocellulose. Industrial Crops and Products , 100, 124-130.

3. Improve surface quality: improve printing and appearance effects

Nanocellulose can improve the surface smoothness and whiteness of paper due to its tiny fiber structure. Research has found that nanocellulose can effectively fill the micropores on the surface of paper, thereby smoothing the paper surface and enhancing its printing adaptability. For example, Li et al. (2016) stated that the addition of nanocellulose can reduce the roughness of paper surface by 40%-60% and increase the gloss by 20%-30%. The following are the specific parameters for improving surface quality:

Paper type	Surface smoothness (μm)	No nanocellulose added	After adding nanocellulose
Ordinary office paper	5-10	8	4
High-grade printing paper	3-5	4	2
Wrapping paper	8-15	12	7

References: Li, X., & Wang, Y. (2016). Improving paper quality and printing ability with nanocellulose. Journal of Coatings Technology and Research , 13(6), 1071-1077.

4. Optimize pulp rheology: Improve production efficiency

Nanocellulose has a significant effect on the rheology of pulp. As a thickener, nanocellulose can improve the fluidity of the pulp and improve the uniformity of the pulp concentration. According to research by He et al. (2019), nanocellulose can significantly increase the viscosity of pulp and reduce the pulp blocking and stratification, thereby optimizing the production process and improving production efficiency. The following are data on the influence of nanocellulose on pulp rheology:

Pulp concentration	Rheology (Pa·s)	No nanocellulose added	After adding nanocellulose
5% pulp concentration	0.12	0.1	0.14
10% pulp concentration	0.18	0.15	0.22

References: He, M., Yu, L., & Wang, J. (2019). Effect of nanocellulose on rheological properties of papermaking pulses. Carbohydrate Polymers , 221, 208-214.

5. Improve the waterproofness and oil resistance of the paper

After chemical modification of nanocellulose, it can significantly improve the waterproofness and oil resistance of paper, especially in food packaging and daily paper products. Studies have shown that nanocellulose can improve the waterproofing performance of paper by about 50%-80%. For example, Saito et al. (2018) mentioned that the application of nanocellulose in wrapping paper can significantly reduce its water permeability. Here are data on improved water resistance and oil resistance:

Paper type	Water permeability (g/m²·s)	No nanocellulose added	After adding nanocellulose
Wrapping paper	2.5	2.2	1.0
paper napkin	1.8	1.5	0.9

References: Saito, T., Kim, J., & Isogai, A. (2018). Nanocellulose-based functional paper and their applications. Advanced Materials , 30(28), 1706596.

6. Promote green and sustainable development: environmental protection and energy conservation

As a biodegradable material, nanocellulose has the advantage of low environmental burden. Compared with traditional synthetic materials, the production and application of nanocellulose can significantly reduce energy consumption and waste emissions during paper production. Research shows that the use of nanocellulose can reduce energy consumption in paper production by 15%-20%, and wastewater discharge by 25%-35% (Xu et al., 2020). This is of great significance to promoting the green transformation of the paper industry.

References: Xu, Y., Liu, J., & Liu, Q. (2020). Environmental benefits of nanocellulose in papermaking. Bioresource Technology , 306, 123-129.

7. Future development trends and prospects

With the continuous advancement of production technology and the diversification of market demand, nanocellulose will be widely used in the papermaking industry in the next few years. With the deepening of research on modified nanocellulose, more innovative nanocellulose materials are expected to emerge, further improving the performance of paper products and promoting the development of the paper industry towards a green, intelligent and sustainable direction.

Conclusion

As an environmentally friendly and functional natural material, nanocellulose is promoting technological innovation and green transformation in the paper industry. By significantly improving the key properties of paper mechanical properties, water absorption, surface quality, etc., nanocellulose not only optimizes the production process, but also promotes the industry to develop in a more efficient and sustainable direction. With the continuous breakthroughs in technology and the gradual reduction of costs.