NCC: The Revolution International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry. Jim Dangerfield Executive Vice President

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1 NCC: The Revolution Jim Dangerfield Executive Vice President 2009 International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry June 24, 2009 Edmonton, Alberta

2 FPInnovations Targeted at Forest Sector Competitiveness and Transforming the Industry Built on Renewable Sustainably Managed Forests Produce Environmentally Friendly Products Priorities Driven from the Market Place and focus on the Bio-economy

3 Lars Sandberg, Timwood Globalization

4 How do we reduce our carbon footprint and meet growing demand for non-renewable resources?

5 Demand for Materials Today 750 Million Cars Tomorrow (2050) 2.5 Billion Cars

6 World Economic Drivers Long-term sustainable growth of the economy is dependent on: growing global trade, energy conservation and efficient and environmentally responsible use of resources.

7 Courtesy of Les Jozsa A Foundation for the Future

8 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways Over 1.5 Trillion Tonnes/Year Cellulose

9 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways microfibril : crystalline region amorphous region acid hydrolysis H 2 SO 4 TEM image of cotton nanocrystals

10 Native Cellulose NanoCrystals Species Diameter Length SW /- 75 HW /- 65 Tunicate Valonia > 1000 Cotton Bacteria X Algae > Gray, Chem Eur, Gray, Biomac, 2005.

11 Nano-Crystalline Cellulose (NCC) Colour Opacity Porosity Stronger than Steel

12 Challenges Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) produced in gram quantities. Commercial application evaluations need larger quantities. Road map was needed for possible opportunities and challenges for forest sector related nanotechnology applications.

13 Roadmap Themes The conversion of cellulosic material into nanocrystalline cellulose New product and process improvement opportunities for nanocrystalline cellulose The application of nano-materials other than nanocrystalline cellulose in new forest sector products and for process improvement Environmental, health, safety and economic issues

14 The conversion of cellulosic material into nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) Improved Extraction Theme 1 Cellulose Source Green Extraction Quality Control Grades of NCC

15 Achieved: 1kg / day pilot plant Milling Hydrolysis Clarification Acid removal Concentration Drying

16 Objective: 1 tonne per day NCC plant

17 Request: 11 tonnes per day NCC plant

18 Summary of Major Improvements ~15% reduction in capital costs (1 TPD)` >50% reduction in acid & lime usage >50% reduction in NCC operating costs ($/T) >60% reduction in drying costs >70% reduction in fresh water usage Further major reductions in capital and operating costs in the last month.

19 New products and process improvement with nanocrystalline cellulose Chirality Strength Magnetism Theme 2 Optical Properties Self Assembly High Surface Area

20 Application Portfolio Categories NCC Process NCC Product Surfaces Paper Fibres Films Coatings Paints/varnishes Composites Gels Powders

21 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways Nanocrystalline Cellulose Achieved: Strong flexible films with tunable colour

22 Achieved: NCC Coated Plastics 1mm 1mm NCC(97%) / PVOH (3%) NCC(97%) / PVOH (3%) 0.8g/m 2

23 Other nano-materials in new products and for process improvement Coating Retention RFIDs & Sensors Theme 3 Equipment Modification Effluent Treatment Active Papers

24 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways Enhancing wood properties using nanotechnology A surface hardening process Surface hardness improved up to 40% Will maintain the current product price level for the next 5 years Plasma technologies for Wood Products present potential for new properties Outdoor uses Non-Residential applications Cutting tools Hydrophobic wood surface

25 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways With Nanocrystalline cellulose : A new highly filled paper sheet NCC NCC layer density: 1.6 g/cm 3 glossy and iridescent glossy, white Nanoclay RMS roughness=2.1nm Nanoclay layer density: 2.6 g/cm 3 RMS roughness=24.7nm 50% NCC+50% nanoclay, NCC side Gloss: 75.2% 50% NCC+50% nanoclay, Nanoclay side Gloss: 42.5%

26 Carbon Nanotubes in Paper High electrical conductivity High thermal conductivity Acoustic dampening High strength Flame retardancy Hydrophobicity Single-walled Multi-walled

27 Achieved: Key Improved Properties Increased conductivity Improved flame retardancy Maintained paper strength

28 Environmental, health, safety and economic issues Environment Theme 4 Health & Safety Economics

29 Achieved: Toxicity Measurement Acute lethal toxicity (mg/l) Very toxic <0.1 Toxic Moderately toxic 1-10 Slightly toxic Practically nontoxic >100

30 Species used for NCC testing Daphnia magna Ceriodaphnia dubia Commonly used for toxicity testing Endpoints: mortality (48 h), reproduction (7 to 21 d) Used for regulatory tests worldwide Wide use allows for comparisons Small size allows tests with small amounts of material

31 Comparative Toxicity Material Toxicity, 48 h LC50, mg/l Daphnia Ceriodaphnia NCC (batches 7-10, nm) >1,000 (3,200) >1,000 (3,200) CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) >10,000 >1,000 (3,200) MCC (microcrystalline cellulose) >1,000 >1,000 TiO 2 (filtered, 30nm) TiO 2 (sonicated, nm) >500 - Fullerene (filtered, nm) Fullerene (sonicated, nm) NaCl ~5,500 ~1,200

32 Summary Tests done with 9 species in different developmental stages looking at numerous endpoints Represents very thorough toxicological assessment Whole organism tests to date indicate NCC is virtually non toxic Less toxic than other nanomaterials Similar potency to NaCl and CMC Based on studies to date: no basis for major environmental concerns, risk appears to be low.

33 Occupational Exposure: Spraying Aerosol Exposure Chamber

34 Summary Environment (toxicity) NCC virtually non toxic NCC uptake restricted to the digestive tract Overall toxicity risk and influence on effluent toxicity regulation: low Human health (exposure) Spray: NCC aerial dispersion < 24 h Spill and NCC fate: aggregation ( non-nano ) Overall exposure risk in studies to date: low

35 Future Plans Environment Continue bioaccumulation study Verify in vitro test results Initiate fate and exposure studies Effluent, sediment interactions Human health Continue occupational exposure assessment Initiate mammalian toxicity assessment, including in vitro and in vivo tests Initiate registration of NCC as required under the New Substances Notification Regulations

36 ArboraNano Canadian Forest NanoProducts Network Business-Led Network Centre of Excellence (BL-NCE) One of four new networks announced in 2009 BL-NCE: new four-year program overseen by NCE Deliver benefits to Canadians Promote an entrepreneurial advantage

37 Need for a Network Approach FPInnovations is strongly linked to forest sector but has few connections to other industries ArboraNano vision requires cross-discipline and cross-sectoral expertise Combined efforts of many university, industrial and government researchers required

38 ArboraNanoVision - Forest NanoProducts Aerospace Automotive Forest (With R&D generated by ArboraNano Network) Composites Medical Coatings Pharmaceutical NCC and silvichemicals

39 ArboraNano Objectives Develop a market for wood-derived nanomaterials Develop novel products or materials using NCC Focus Areas: NCC in aerospace and automotive composites and coatings Develop forest products enhanced by nanotechnology NCC in drug delivery, in-vivo imaging, soft and hard tissue repair 39

40 Industry and Public Sector Partners 40

41 Product Examples Nanotech-improved wood adhesives and finishes Food products containing NCC Nanotech-improved wood composites and lumber Nanotech-improved paper products Foams, composites and bio-composites containing NCC Paints, lacquers and coatings formulated with NCC Scientific Committee decides what to work on

42 Potential Research Partners Research may be carried out in the facilities of industry members Universities have expressed a strong interest ArboraNano by submitting unsolicited proposals: McGill University University of Toronto University of British Columbia University of Alberta Université Laval University of Guelph Université du Québec á Trois-Rivières CIPP University of New Brunswick Ecole Polytechnique University of Waterloo Others National and Provincial Research Institutes will participate Alberta Research Council National Institute for Nanotechnology MaRS

43 ArboraNano Summary Take advantage of breakthrough technology for commercial manufacture of NCC Forge alliances with major manufacturing sectors Generate fundamental and applied knowledge to attain the vision Develop and commercialize innovative highly-engineered NANOPRODUCTS FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES

44 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways Combining Carbon Nanotubes with Nanocrystalline Cellulose? Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are used in baseball bats, tennis racquets, and some car parts because of their greater mechanical strength at less weight per unit volume than that of conventional materials. Electronic properties of CNTs have made them a candidate for flat panel displays in TVs, batteries, and other electronics. Nanotubes for various uses can be made of materials other than carbon.

45 Using the Forest Resource in New Ways Combining Carbon Nanotubes with Nanocrystalline Cellulose?

46 Opportunity Nanocrystalline cellulose is a sustainable, high volume, inexpensive, practically nontoxic nanomaterial with remarkable properties.

47 Save the Planet Grow More Trees Use More Wood Thank You

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