Application of cellulose nanocrystals as a functional filler in conductive gel adhesives

3 M加拿大公司60多年来一直提供基于科学的产品，从医疗保健和高速公路安全到办公产品和粘合剂。公司总部位于安大略省伦敦，在加拿大各地设有研究、销售和制造工厂。3 M加拿大公司希望将纤维素纳米晶体（CNC）阿萨功能性填料加入其现有的用于生物电极的导电凝胶粘合剂中。CNC是从木浆中提取的无毒刚性颗粒，具有良好的性能，可用作稳定剂、增稠剂、模板和增强剂。导电凝胶粘合剂，例如3 M红点监测电极产品，在医院中常规用于监测心电图功能并提供支持诊断的信息;一致的性能至关重要。在3 M凝胶粘合剂中加入CNC有望改善保水性，从而提高低湿度下的粘合剂和机械性能。我们的初步研究表明，向水凝胶中添加CNC可以显著提高其机械强度、功能性和吸水能力。挑战在于提高导电凝胶粘合剂的保湿性（从而提高其使用寿命和重现性），同时又不会对其他凝胶性能（如电化学、抗弯性、强度和弹性）产生负面影响。我们将生产和表征功能化的CNC，并测量作为CNC加载和类型的函数的杂化凝胶特性，包括：保水性/溶胀性、流变性、透明度、粘合剂/机械测试。我们将与3 M加拿大研发中心合作进行应用测试和原型设计，以确保开发的配方具有工业相关性。这项研究将确定在3 M的凝胶粘合剂中添加CNC的主要好处，开发的IP将在加拿大开发。我们致力于帮助加拿大的林业部门，这项工作将对加拿大具有重要的经济意义，确保我们保持在CNC发现的最前沿，并开发新材料，从而为加拿大创造就业机会。

3M Canada has been providing science-based products ranging from healthcare and highway safety to officeproducts and adhesives for over 60 years. They are headquartered in London, ON with research, sales andmanufacturing facilities across Canada. 3M Canada would like to incorporate cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) asa functional filler into their existing conductive gel adhesives used in bioelectrodes. CNCs are non-toxic, rigidrod shaped particles extracted from wood pulp that possess favourable properties to act as stabilizers,thickeners, templates and reinforcing agents. Conductive gel adhesives, such as in 3M Red Dot monitoringelectrode products, are used routinely in hospitals to monitor electrocardiographic function and to provideinformation in support of diagnosis; consistent performance is essential. Adding CNCs to 3M gel adhesives isanticipated to improve water retention to enhance adhesive and mechanical performance at low humidity. Ourpreliminary studies have shown that adding CNCs to hydrogels significantly increases their mechanicalstrength, functionality and water-uptake abilities.The challenge is to increase the moisture retention (and thus the performance lifetime and reproducibility) ofconductive gel adhesives without negatively affecting other gel properties such as electrochemistry,adhesiveness, strength, and elasticity. We will produce and characterize functionalized CNCs and measure thehybrid gel properties as a function of CNC loading and type, including: water retention/swelling, rheology,transparency, adhesive/mechanical testing. We will work with 3M Canada's R&D Centre for application testingand prototyping to ensure the formulations developed are industrially relevant. This research will establish themain benefits of adding CNCs to 3M's gel adhesives and the IP developed will be exploited in Canada. We arecommitted to helping Canada's Forestry sector and this work will be economically significant for Canada byensuring that we remain at the forefront of CNC discoveries and develop new materials that will lead to jobcreation in Canada.