Studying and improving the thermal stability of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose filaments

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Cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose filaments are renewable resource-based nanomaterials prepared by Canada's forest products industry. These emerging materials promise to replace current oil-based materials in applications that range from coatings to composites. As well, these materials have new and significant properties that present new opportunities in biomedical applications, drug delivery, aerospace technology, automobiles, and other areas. Our industrial partner, FPInnovations, is working actively to develop markets for these new materials. One limitation on applications currently is the thermal stability of the materials, as it limits the processing of the products into which they are incorporated. Here, we propose to undertake a comprehensive study of the thermal degradation mechanisms of these materials using a wide variety of analytical techniques, including thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, multinuclear solid-state NMR, electron microscopy and other techniques. Together these experiments will provide a detailed understanding of the mechanisms responsible for thermal degradation in cellulosic nanomaterials, and will enable us to chemically modify the materials' surface to improve their stability and process compatibility. This work is essential for our partner organization, FPInnovations, in its efforts to develop compelling applications and markets. Along with the industrially significant fundamental new knowledge of the degradation and surface chemistry of the materials, outcomes of this work will include HQP training in an industrially important area and the establishment of Canada at the forefront of nano-cellulosic materials research and development. Future applications of these new materials will result in longer term benefits including new value-added products and markets for the forestry and pulp & paper industries with concomitant new jobs and trickle-down benefits.