Patents by Inventor Heidi Saxell
Heidi Saxell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11479915Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an intermediate product that can be stored and transported and efficiently converted into microfibrillated cellulose with limited energy input at the time of conversion. More specifically, the invention involves the use of dewatered carboxymethylcellulose or carboxylated cellulose fiber having a low degree of substitution and a high amount of additives.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2017Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen, Katja Lyytikäinen, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20210277265Abstract: A method for 3D printing is provided, using crosslinkable microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The 3D printed structure is treated to provide crosslinking of the MFC.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2019Publication date: September 9, 2021Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Gisela Cunha, Heidi Saxell, Robin Grankvist
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Patent number: 10900169Abstract: A method for the production of highly refined or microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), comprising the steps of treating cellulosic fibres to remove at least a major part of the primary wall of the fibres, drying the treated fibres, rewetting the treated fibres, and disintegrating the wetted fibres by mechanical means to obtain the final product. Dried cellulosic pulp is produced as an intermediate product of the method, having an average fibre length of at least 0.4 mm, while less than 50% of the primary wall material of natural untreated fibres is left in the intermediate product. Instead of transporting large amounts of dilute MFC dispersion the invention enables transport of the dry intermediate product to the MFC end user, who would complete the process by turning the intermediate product to final MFC by use of standard disintegrating devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: STORA ENSO OYJInventors: Isto Heiskanen, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20210017671Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a fibrous material (preferably a mat or filaments) of crosslinked microfibrillated cellulose. Phosphorylated microfibrillated cellulose is spun into a fibrous material; and then said fibrous material is post-treated (e.g. by heat-treatment) to provide crosslinking between the phosphorylated microfibrillated cellulose. Fibrous materials such as filaments or mats, and hygiene products comprising such materials are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Gisela Cunha, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20200339783Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a fibrous material of crosslinked microfibrillated cellulose. Dialdehyde microfibrillated cellulose is spun into a fibrous material; said fibrous material is pre- or post-treated (by reduction of pH) to provide crosslinking between the dialdehyde microfibrillated cellulose. Fibrous materials such as filaments or mats, and polymer composites comprising such materials are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Gisela Cunha, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20200340183Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a film of crosslinked microfibrillated cellulose. Phosphorylated microfibrillated cellulose is cast or wet-laid into a film; and then said film is post-treated (e.g. by heat-treatment) to provide crosslinking between the phosphorylated microfibrillated cellulose. Films and hygiene products comprising such films are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: October 29, 2020Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Gisela Cunha, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20190292727Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an intermediate product that can be stored and transported and efficiently converted into microfibrillated cellulose with limited energy input at the time of conversion. More specifically, the invention involves the use of dewatered carboxymethylcellulose or carboxylated cellulose fiber having a low degree of substitution and a high amount of additives.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2017Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Kaj Backfolk, Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen, Katja Lyytikäinen, Heidi Saxell
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Patent number: 10240288Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). According to the invention a fibrous pulp suspension is fibrillated mechanically at a consistency of less than 12.5%, dewatered to raise the consistency of the fibrillated suspension to at least 12.5%, and then subjected in the dewatered condition to further fibrillation. Alternatively an initially fibrillated fibrous pulp suspension may be dewatered and fibrillated in the dewatered condition, after which these dewatering and fibrillating steps are repeated one or more times so that pulp consistency is increased for each fibrillation step. The goals of raising the consistency between subsequent fibrillations are energy saving and an increased aspect ratio in MFC. The invention even comprises uses of the MFC product, e.g. as an additive for papermaking furnish or injection molded plastic composites.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2013Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Isto Heiskanen, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi, Jukka Kankkunen, Lars Axrup, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Heidi Saxell, Kaj Backfolk
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Patent number: 9926668Abstract: A substantially dry composite material comprising a nanofibrillated polysaccharide and two or more additives, wherein the composite nanofibrillated polysaccharide is a microfibrillated cellulose and wherein the additives are lime milk and carbon dioxide, wherein the additives are allowed to react with each other and forming a precipitated calcium carbonate on the nanofibrillated polysaccharide, thereby forming a composite product comprising precipitated calcium carbonate and nanofibrillated polysaccharide.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell, Veikko Jokela, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi, Kaj Backfolk, Nina Ruohoniemi, Risto Laitinen, Isto Heiskanen, Teija Laukala
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Publication number: 20170145119Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing cellulose carbamate which method comprises the following steps: providing a never-dried pulp, adding urea and mixing said pulp with said urea, mechanically treating said mixture, drying the mixture, and heating the relatively dry mixture thus providing a cellulose carbamate. The present invention also relates to a cellulose carbamate obtainable by said method, use of said cellulose carbamate and a dope comprising said cellulose carbamate.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Heidi Saxell, Paula Rantamäki, Kalle Ekman
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Publication number: 20170107669Abstract: A substantially dry composite material comprising a nanofibrillated polysaccharide and two or more additives, wherein the composite nanofibrillated polysaccharide is a microfibrillated cellulose and wherein the additives are lime milk and carbon dioxide, wherein the additives are allowed to react with each other and forming a precipitated calcium carbonate on the nanofibrillated polysaccharide, thereby forming a composite product comprising precipitated calcium carbonate and nanofibrillated polysaccharide.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2016Publication date: April 20, 2017Inventors: Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell, Veikko Jokela, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi, Kaj Backfolk, Nina Ruohoniemi, Risto Laitinen, Isto Heiskanen, Teija Laukala
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Patent number: 9562328Abstract: A method for the production of a composite material comprising nanofibrillated polysaccharide, the method comprising the following steps: (i) providing a liquid suspension of the nanofibrillated polysaccharide; (ii) bringing said liquid suspension in contact with at least one additive, thereby forming a composite material suspension, wherein the composite comprises the nanofibrillated polysaccharide and the at least one additive, (iii) increasing the solid contents of said composite material suspension, thereby forming a high solid contents composite material suspension.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell, Veikko Jokela, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi, Kaj Backfolk, Nina Ruohoniemi, Risto Laitinen, Isto Heiskanen, Teija Laukala
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Publication number: 20160153144Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing oxidized or microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). According to the invention there is provided an aqueous pulp suspension with a consistency of at least 15%, and at least one oxidant is added to the suspension to oxidize cellulosic hydroxyl groups in the suspension under mechanical mixing or shearing. The oxidized suspension, washed and diluted to a lower consistency, is subjected to homogenization to yield gel-like MFC. Alkali hypochlorite may be used as oxidant, and preferred mediating oxidation catalysts are AZADO and TEMPO. Alkali bromide may be used as a cocatalyst. The MFC product, which as a suspension has an increased viscosity, is suitable as a means of regulating viscosity or for production of films and composites.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Applicant: STORA ENSO OYJInventors: Jaakko Hiltunen, Isto Heiskanen, Heidi Saxell, Jukka Kahelin, Erkki Saharinen
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Publication number: 20160060815Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating cellulose fibres which process comprises the steps of providing a slurry comprising cellulose fibers, adding anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM) with high molar mass to the slurry in a first step and subjecting the slurry comprising fibers and A-PAM to a mechanical treatment in a second step thereby forming a composition comprising microfibrillated cellulose. The invention further relates to a composition produced according to the process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2014Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: Stora Enso OYJInventors: Isto Heiskanen, Esa Saukkonen, Kaj Backfolk, Anna Kauppi, Heidi Saxell, Katja Lyytikainen
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Publication number: 20150337493Abstract: The invention relates to methods of producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). According to the invention a fibrous pulp suspension is fibrillated mechanically at a consistency of less than 12.5%, dewatered to raise the consistency of the fibrillated suspension to at least 12.5%, and then subjected in the dewatered condition to further fibrillation. Alternatively an initially fibrillated fibrous pulp suspension may be dewatered and fibrillated in the dewatered condition, after which these dewatering and fibrillating steps are repeated one or more times so that pulp consistency is increased for each fibrillation step. The goals of raising the consistency between subsequent fibrillations are energy saving and an increased aspect ratio in MFC. The invention even comprises uses of the MFC product, e.g. as an additive for papermaking furnish or injection molded plastic composites.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2013Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Isto HEISKANEN, Henri KASTINEN, Anna KAUPPI, Jukka KANKKUNEN, Lars AXRUP, Cecilia LAND HENSDAL, Heidi SAXELL, Kaj BACKFOLK
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Publication number: 20150308017Abstract: A method for drying nanofibrillated polysaccharide to obtain a substantially dry nanofibrillated polysaccharide product, comprising the following steps: (i) providing an aqueous suspension of nanofibrillated polysaccharide; (ii) increasing the solid content of said suspension, thereby forming a high solid content microfibrillated cellulose suspension; and (iii) drying said high solid content microfibrillated cellulose suspension, through a simultaneous heating and mixing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2013Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: Kaj Backfolk, Heidi Saxell, Isto Heiskanen, Lars Axrup, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Veikko Jokela, Esa Saukkonen, Ari Kotilainen, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi
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Publication number: 20150299959Abstract: A method for the production of a composite material comprising nanofibrillated polysaccharide, the method comprising the following steps: (i) providing a liquid suspension of the nanofibrillated polysaccharide; (ii) bringing said liquid suspension in contact with at least one additive, thereby forming a composite material suspension, wherein the composite comprises the nanofibrillated polysaccharide and the at least one additive, (iii) increasing the solid contents of said composite material suspension, thereby forming a high solid contents composite material suspension.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell, Veikko Jokela, Henri Kastinen, Anna Kauppi, Kaj Backfolk, Nina Ruohoniemi, Risto Laitinen, Isto Heiskanen, Teija Laukala
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Publication number: 20150218757Abstract: A method for the production of highly refined or microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), comprising the steps of treating cellulosic fibres to remove at least a major part of the primary wall of the fibres, drying the treated fibres, rewetting the treated fibres, and disintegrating the wetted fibres by mechanical means to obtain the final product. Dried cellulosic pulp is produced as an intermediate product of the method, having an average fibre length of at least 0.4 mm, while less than 50% of the primary wall material of natural untreated fibres is left in the intermediate product. Instead of transporting large amounts of dilute MFC dispersion the invention enables transport of the dry intermediate product to the MFC end user, who would complete the process by turning the intermediate product to final MFC by use of standard disintegrating devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Isto Heiskanen, Cecelia Land Hensdal, Lars Axrup, Heidi Saxell
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Publication number: 20150094464Abstract: The present invention provides a method for production of cellulose ethers in a high solids process substantially without use of organic solvents as reaction and/or washing medium. In the method of the invention the first alkalization step is carried out by using high solids content cellulose pulp and solid sodium hydroxide. This is followed by an etherification step where the solids content is preferably further increased and the use of solid etherification reactant is preferred. As no organic solvents are used as reaction media the invented method enables production of cellulose ethers directly from never dried pulp with significant savings in energy and investment costs. The method is especially suitable for the production of carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (CMC) with low degree of substitution (DS<0.3). The use of the resulting none or low water soluble carboxymethylated cellulosic fibres is suitable for example for producing microfibrillated cellulose.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Heidi Saxell, Isto Heiskanen, Lars Axrup, Cecilia Land Hensdal, Veikko Jokela