Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a Pickering emulsion comprising cellulose filaments. The heterogeneity of the cellulose filament material is critical and beneficial to the formation of stable emulsions. Emulsions with high stability can be prepared by controlling the CF surface properties. It is provided an emulsion comprising an internal phase dispersed in a continuous external phase and cellulose filaments located at the interface of the internal phase and the external phase, wherein the emulsion comprises 50% in volume or more of the internal phase and a method of producing same.

Abstract: A composite and method for producing the composite by incorporating wood or wood pulp fibres with a suitable thermoplastic polymer and coupling agent are described. Homogeneous, void-free transparent/translucent thermoplastic materials in the form of pellets, films or three-dimensional moldable products are produced. The wood pulp fibres can be discrete natural fibres, and flexible assemblies of nano to micro elements, e.g., assemblies of aggregated carbon nanotubes. It is also possible to use our vacuum-assisted co-extrusion process to produce hybrid composites comprising the wood pulp fibre and a further rigid fibre, like glass or carbon fibres, and a flexible fibre or fibrillar network, like cellulose fibres or cellulose filaments. The thermoplastic resin can be, but not limited to, polyolefins, like polypropylene or polyethylene, or polyesters, like polylactic acid, or co-polymers, like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a Pickering emulsion comprising cellulose filaments. The heterogeneity of the cellulose filament material is critical and beneficial to the formation of stable emulsions. Emulsions with high stability can be prepared by controlling the CF surface properties. It is provided an emulsion comprising an internal phase dispersed in a continuous external phase and cellulose filaments located at the interface of the internal phase and the external phase, wherein the emulsion comprises 50% in volume or more of the internal phase and a method of producing same.

Abstract: A composite and method for producing the composite by incorporating wood or wood pulp fibres with a suitable thermoplastic polymer and coupling agent are described. Homogeneous, void-free transparent/translucent thermoplastic materials in the form of pellets, films or three-dimensional moldable products are produced. The wood pulp fibres can be discrete natural fibres, and flexible assemblies of nano to micro elements, e.g., assemblies of aggregated carbon nanotubes. It is also possible to use our vacuum-assisted co-extrusion process to produce hybrid composites comprising the wood pulp fibre and a further rigid fibre, like glass or carbon fibres, and a flexible fibre or fibrillar network, like cellulose fibres or cellulose filaments. The thermoplastic resin can be, but not limited to, polyolefins, like polypropylene or polyethylene, or polyesters, like polylactic acid, or co-polymers, like acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene terpolymer.

Abstract: A composition and a method for producing mesoporous carbon materials with a chiral or achiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites organized in a chiral nematic organization. The cellulose can be carbonized through thermal treatment under inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or argon) and the silica may subsequently be removed using aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) to give the stable mesoporous carbon materials that retain the chiral nematic structure of the cellulose. These materials may be obtained as free-standing films with very high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions the pore-size distribution may be varied from predominantly microporous to predominantly mesoporous materials.

Abstract: A mesoporous metal oxide materials with a chiral organization; and a method for producing it, in the method a polymerizable metal oxide precursor is condensed inside the pores of chiral nematic mesoporous silica by the so-called “hard templating” method. As a specific example, mesoporous titanium dioxide is formed inside of a chiral nematic silica film templated by nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC). After removing the silica template such as by dissolving the silica in concentrated aqueous base, the resulting product is a mesoporous titania with a high surface area. These mesoporous metal oxide materials with high surface area and chiral nematic structures that lead to photonic properties may be useful for photonic applications as well as enantioselective catalysis, photocatalysis, photovoltaics, UV filters, batteries, and sensors.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a novel process for functionalizing NCC, a method for producing amine-cured epoxy-based nanocomposites through the use of said functionalized NCC, and nanocomposites thereof. The process for functionalizating NCC comprises providing a mixture of NCC and one or more monomers. The mixture is suitable for free radical polymerization and the monomer is cross-linkable with epoxy and is aqueous soluble. The polymerization takes place in the presence of a free radical initiator and oxygen is purged from the mixture and the initiator solution. The epoxy-based nanocomposite is produced by mixing the funtionalized NCC with an amine-curable epoxy resin and a hardener, in a solvent, and allowing the mixture to cure.

Abstract: A composition and a method for producing mesoporous carbon materials with a chiral or achiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites organized in a chiral nematic organization. The cellulose can be carbonized through thermal treatment under inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or argon) and the silica may subsequently be removed using aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) to give the stable mesoporous carbon materials that retain the chiral nematic structure of the cellulose. These materials may be obtained as free-standing films with very high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions the pore-size distribution may be varied from predominantly microporous to predominantly mesoporous materials.

Abstract: A composition and a method for producing mesoporous carbon materials with a chiral or achiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites organized in a chiral nematic organization. The cellulose can be carbonized through thermal treatment under inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or argon) and the silica may subsequently be removed using aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) to give the stable mesoporous carbon materials that retain the chiral nematic structure of the cellulose. These materials may be obtained as free-standing films with very high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions the pore-size distribution may be varied from predominantly microporous to predominantly mesoporous materials.

Abstract: A new approach is conceived for the development of organic polymeric conducting materials synthesized from nanocomposites of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and polyaniline (PANI). The process involves oxidative-radical polymerization of aniline in the presence of NCC using either in situ or emulsion polymerization. The resulting NCC-PANI nanocomposite material can be obtained in film or powder form and exhibits electrical conductive properties typical of semiconducting materials. Unlike PANI, a brittle conductive polymer, NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials can be engineered to possess significant flexibility, strength and/or hardness as a result of the NCC acting as a reinforcing scaffold. Depending on the preparation conditions, electrical conductivities for the NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials prepared according to this disclosure range from 9.98×10?5 to 1.88×10?2 S·cm?1; they could also have hardness ?0.189 GPa or be formed into flexible films of tensile strength of the order of 9.

Abstract: In this invention, we disclose a method as well as silica and/or organosilica mesoporous materials obtained by templating using nanocrystalline cellulose and removal of the latter using acidic conditions. The resultant mesoporous silica materials are characterized by having high surface area with tunable iridescence resulting from the long-range chiral nematic organization. This invention is an improvement over the formation of composite materials formed with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and silica, where the calcination of the materials led to removal of the cellulose and formation of a mesoporous silica material. Characteristically, the removal of the NCC template using acidic conditions differentiates the silica materials thus obtained in two ways: (1) It does not lead to as significant contraction of the materials as from calcination thereby giving access to materials with larger mesopores; and (2) it allows the formation of mesoporous chiral nematic compositions that include heat-sensitive components.

Abstract: This invention describes development of a novel flexible film comprising nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), or cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and a controlled amount of a suitable zwitterionic (amphoteric) surfactant. The films are iridescent and have a high level of structural integrity, where mechanical properties can be engineered to suit the end applications. Flexible NCC films can be used in a multitude of applications, for instance, electrostatic shielding, gas barrier, hard coatings, printing.

Abstract: Composite hydrogels with a chiral organization with tunable responsive photonic properties are conceived. A polymerizable hydrophilic monomer such as acrylamide is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) to give a composite hydrogel with cellulose nanocrystals embedded in a chiral nematic organization. Through control of the reaction conditions, the hydrogel can exhibit photonic colour that can be varied throughout the visible and near-infrared regions. The colour shifts substantially and reversibly upon swelling and shrinking of the hydrogel through solvation in aqueous and nonaqueous media. The responsive properties can be tailored both through choice of monomer and/or through chemical modification of the NCC surface. Examples of possible applications of the materials are: tunable reflective filters, chemical sensors, stationary phases for electrophoresis of chiral or achiral substances, and as a template to generate new materials with chiral nematic structures.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a novel process for functionalizing NCC, a method for producing amine-cured epoxy-based nanocomposites through the use of said functionalized NCC, and nanocomposites thereof. The process for functionalizating NCC comprises providing a mixture of NCC and one or more monomers. The mixture is suitable for free radical polymerization and the monomer is cross-linkable with epoxy and is aqueous soluble. The polymerization takes place in the presence of a free radical initiator and oxygen is purged from the mixture and the initiator solution. The epoxy-based nanocomposite is produced by mixing the funtionalized NCC with an amine-curable epoxy resin and a hardener, in a solvent, and allowing the mixture to cure.

Abstract: In this invention, we disclose a method as well as silica and/or organosilica mesoporous materials obtained by templating using nanocrystalline cellulose and removal of the latter using acidic conditions. The resultant mesoporous silica materials are characterized by having high surface area with tunable iridescence resulting from the long-range chiral nematic organization. This invention is an improvement over the formation of composite materials formed with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and silica, where the calcination of the materials led to removal of the cellulose and formation of a mesoporous silica material. Characteristically, the removal of the NCC template using acidic conditions differentiates the silica materials thus obtained in two ways: (1) It does not lead to as significant contraction of the materials as from calcination thereby giving access to materials with larger mesopores; and (2) it allows the formation of mesoporous chiral nematic compositions that include heat-sensitive components.

Abstract: This invention describes nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) for use as a drug delivery excipient. NCC binds significant quantities of water soluble, ionizable drugs, e.g., tetratcycline and doxorubicin, which are released rapidly over a one day period. A surfactant such as cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to the surface of NCC and increase the zeta potential in a concentration-dependent manner from ?55 to 0 mV. NCC with CTAB modified surfaces can bind significant quantities of the hydrophobic drugs such as anticancer drugs docetaxel, paclitaxel and etoposide. These drugs were released in a controlled manner over a 2-day period. The NCC-CTAB nanocomplexes were found to bind to KU-7 cells and evidence of cellular uptake was observed.

Abstract: A composition and a method for producing mesoporous carbon materials with a chiral or achiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites organized in a chiral nematic organization. The cellulose can be carbonized through thermal treatment under inert atmosphere (e.g., nitrogen or argon) and the silica may subsequently be removed using aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) to give the stable mesoporous carbon materials that retain the chiral nematic structure of the cellulose. These materials may be obtained as free-standing films with very high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions the pore-size distribution may be varied from predominantly microporous to predominantly mesoporous materials.

Abstract: A new approach is conceived for the development of organic polymeric conducting materials synthesized from nanocomposites of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and polyaniline (PANI). The process involves oxidative-radical polymerization of aniline in the presence of NCC using either in situ or emulsion polymerization. The resulting NCC-PANI nanocomposite material can be obtained in film or powder form and exhibits electrical conductive properties typical of semiconducting materials. Unlike PANI, a brittle conductive polymer, NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials can be engineered to possess significant flexibility, strength and/or hardness as a result of the NCC acting as a reinforcing scaffold. Depending on the preparation conditions, electrical conductivities for the NCC-PANI nanocomposite materials prepared according to this disclosure range from 9.98×10?5 to 1.88×10?2 S·cm?1; they could also have hardness ?0.189 GPa or be formed into flexible films of tensile strength of the order of 9.

Abstract: The present invention describes a composition and a method for producing mesoporous silica materials with a chiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites embedded in a chiral nematic organization. The NCC can be removed to give a stable porous structure that retains the chiral organization of the NCC template. The new materials may be obtained as iridescent free-standing films with high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions, the color of the films can be varied across the entire visible spectrum. These are the first materials to combine mesoporosity with long-range chiral ordering that leads to photonic properties.

Abstract: The present invention describes a composition and a method for producing mesoporous silica materials with a chiral organization. In the method, a polymerizable inorganic monomer is reacted in the presence of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) to give a material of inorganic solid with cellulose nanocrystallites embedded in a chiral nematic organization. The NCC can be removed to give a stable porous structure that retains the chiral organization of the NCC template. The new materials may be obtained as iridescent free-standing films with high surface area. Through control of the reaction conditions, the colour of the films can be varied across the entire visible spectrum. These are the first materials to combine mesoporosity with long-range chiral ordering that leads to photonic properties.