According to a featured article by Nippon Paper (Tokyo, Japan) published on their website late this past month, cellulose, the main ingredient of plant fibers, is seeing a transformation in material usefulness. The year 2016 has seen multiple breakthroughs in cellulose nanotechnology and processing.

 

Cellulose is drawing progressively more attention as a promising new material that is light, strong, and eco-friendly when processed into celluosic nanofibers (CNFs). CNFs have many potential applications, such as in adult diapers, electronic displays, even automobiles and airplanes. With forests covering about 70% of its territory, Nippon noted that its native Japan is currently a world leader in CNF-related research and development. 

 

 

Pictured above: A view of CNFs through a microscope. 

 

Competition in developing CNF applications is now unfolding with the forest-rich nations of Northern Europe and North America. Nippon Paper intends to be prepared to take full advantage of profiting on these future nano-based cellulose production technologies.

More information about the details and multiple applications of new CNF products is available online in the full article by Nippon Paper.