ford of america plans to reduce the weight of its vehicles by up to 400 kilograms in the coming years. the automaker will use nanocellulose fibers in this direction.

nanocellulose is a natural polymer with biodegradable and recyclable properties. to produce it, cellulose is converted into tiny particles (nano-sized) and converted into nanocrystals under high pressure. manufacturers stack the resulting product in any desired way and form the desired texture.

finnish researchers have produced a nanocellulose fabric that has extraordinary mechanical properties. according to the researchers, boats that weigh only half a kilogram but can carry about 500 kilograms can be made using this fabric. nanocellulose fabrics can also be used to make filters; filters that are used either in cigarettes or in desalination plants to remove salts from seawater.

nanocellulose fabrics have the potential to become a supermaterial in the future alongside carbon fibers. currently, very light but super-strong fabrics made of carbon fibers are used, including in the automotive and aircraft industries.

nanocellulose fabrics have higher tensile strength than kevlar, are thinner than paper, and can conduct electricity under certain conditions. kevlar is a type of synthetic fiber that has a very high strength-to-weight ratio. these fibers have 5 times the tensile strength of steel with the same weight.

production of nanocellulose fibers

cellulose is available in abundance. to achieve the properties of nanocellulose fibers, manufacturers go for example to the bark of trees; they break its texture to reach very small fibers (on the nanoscale). this requires different devices and different chemicals. this process not only requires energy, but also damages the fibers.

there are other ways to produce nanocellulose fibers; for example, with the help of bacteria. bacteria and yeasts that make vinegar from grapes or even kombucha mushrooms come to the aid of researchers here. these bacteria require a huge amount of additives, including sugar and liquids, as well as huge sources of liquid storage for fermentation.

meanwhile, researchers at the university of texas in the united states have found a solution that can be used to produce widely used nanocellulose tissues more simply and cheaply. according to the website "d-welt", researchers change the genetic structure of algae using the dna of vinegar bacteria. the modified algae are used to produce nanocellulose fibers.

this method has many advantages; including the fact that the necessary materials - water and sunlight for growing algae - are available in sufficient quantities. in addition, the algae also absorb carbon dioxide. this material is one of the main compounds whose entry into the atmosphere has a significant impact on the intensification of the global warming phenomenon.

industrial application

the production of nanocellulose fibers with the help of algae has now left the laboratory scale and is under investigation in the industrial field. it is predicted that the production of these fibers will be carried out on a large scale in the next 5 to 10 years. a polish company is trying to mass-produce nanocellulose fibers by the end of this year (2013) using conventional (chemical) methods.

nanocellulose fibers can be used in the production of almost any product. the head of the university of texas study team working on the production of fibers with the help of algae says that using this method, “cost-effective production of nanocellulose fibers on a mass scale” is possible, thus obtaining a raw material “for the sustainable production of biofuels and many other products.”

for example, the aforementioned fibers can be used to produce extremely light and yet extremely durable bulletproof vests. very fine cellulose fibers can be packed together so tightly that a bullet cannot pierce the final structure of the fibers. given the extremely compact structure of these fibers, they can also be used to insulate buildings.

is it possible to produce implants?

nanocellulose fibers, due to their porous texture, are very good liquid absorbers. thus, these fibers can be used to produce tampons or bandages and sterile gauze with a very high liquid absorption capacity. this eliminates the need to change wound dressings early. this feature will be widely used in burn injury departments of hospitals, where changing dressings on burned limbs is accompanied by severe pain and burning.

in addition, the texture of nanocellulose fibers is very similar to the tissue of body organs. with this in mind, researchers at the university of jena in germany have begun animal experiments to see if the fibers can be used to produce implants.

nanocellulose fabrics could even be used instead of paper, if production volumes reach the current level of paper consumption.

adding conductivity to nanocellulose fabrics opens up another window for industrial researchers. for example, it would be possible to eliminate glass or plastic from tv or computer screens and create flexible displays as thick as skin. pioneer, a japanese audio-visual manufacturer, is working on a tv whose display can be mounted on a wall like wallpaper.