Outlook and development

Although cellulose is the most abundant polymer on Earth, it has only recently come to prominence as a nanostructured material, in the form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) or cellulose nanofibrils (CNF). There has been a considerable amount of research into these materials, and commercial development is underway with very promising applications.

These nanoparticles are often used as reinforcing fillers and dispersed in a polymer matrix to create nanocomposite materials. However, the shaping stage is crucial, as it will determine the material's properties in use. Indeed, as with any nanoparticle, the main challenge lies in its homogeneous dispersion in a continuous phase. In most studies, nanocellulose-reinforced nanocomposites are prepared in a liquid medium, using a polymer solution or polymer dispersion (latex). The main advantage of this method is to preserve...