Biofibre processing - Competences at VTT S. Heinemann FP1105 Workshop 3-4 December 2012, Stockholm/Sweden
12/12/2012 2 VTT s status as performer of R&D work Basic research Applied research VTT knowledge clusters Bio and process technology Energy and pulp & paper Fibre Processes ICT Materials and built environment Development Microtechnologies and sensors Industrial systems
12/12/2012 3 Fibre Processes Development of new energy efficient unit processes and concepts for pulping, papermaking and fibre products Competence: Mechanical and chemical fibre processing Papermaking sub-processes Process waters Fibre suspension flow Wet web rheology Fibre properties and paper physics Impact of raw materials on the end product Process analysis Control of secondary flows in the pulp and paper industry Research personnel: 95 Contacts: Janne Poranen, janne.poranen@vtt.fi, Terhi Saari, terhi.saari@vtt.fi, Erkki Hellén, erkki.hellen@vtt.fi, Jani Kiuru jani.liuru@vtt.fi 3
12/12/2012 4 Processing competence Mechanical processes Refining Grinding Chemical processes Alkaline (Kraft, soda AQ) and acidic (Si) methods Combined Organosolv Oxygen based methods Fractionation, bleaching, fibre modification Equipment from laboratory to pilot scale Fibres, chemicals
12/12/2012 Raw material competence 5 From forest to the end product 50 years experience of domestic wood and nonwood fibres " pine, spruce, birch, aspen, straw, reed canary grass Global fibre raw materials " eucalyptus, acacia, MTH, southern pine, straw etc. Raw material structure and composition, fibre properties, present chemical and mechanical pulping and fractionation methods, suitability for paper Adaptation to biorefinery processes: pre-processing methods, mass transfer limitations, behaviour outside present operational window Focus: Understanding phenomena, novel properties, sustaining processes and products
12/12/2012 6 TK5103 Biofibre processing Converting natural fibers into fiber-based products Mechanical and chemical comminution of fibrous raw materials Modification of fibres for paper, board, fibre web, fibre composite and nanocellulose applications Main competences Characterization of physical, morphological and chemical properties of fibrous raw materials, and pulps, single fibres and fines derived from them, applying microscopy and fibre analyzers Mechanical, chemimechanical and chemical refining and further modification of fibrous raw materials, defibration mechanisms, interactions between fibrous raw materials and process conditions, development of mechanical refining technologies Modification of fibrous raw materials for products like paper and board, fibre composites, nanocellulose, moldable and extensible webs, modification of fibre-web properties, fibre and paper physics Wet end chemistry, retention and drainage, biocides
12/12/2012 7 Special competences Fibre raw materials and their characterization Application of basic image analysis on fibre cross-sections Deeper understanding of the measurement principles of L&W STFI Fibermaster Wood plastic composites measurement of interfacial adhesion Fibre deformations and their relationship to deformation behavior of paper Micro- and nanofibrillated celluloses important properties Processing and modification of fibres HT-TMP preparation, modification and properties Lignofibre organosolv process HC-refiner phenomena Mechanical refining of biomaterials Drying of fibers without hornification Thickening of very diluted suspensions Product properties vs fibre properties Formability of paper-based materials Mechanical properties of paper Recycled fibres, and their non-paper use Foamed fibre structures Effect of furnish charge conditions on certain sheet properties
12/12/2012 8 Physical/physico-chemical characterization of fibres Size and shape distributions Fiber wall porosity/structure Mechanical properties (flexibility/stiffness) Surface structure Staining/labeling of wood fibre components for fluorescence and electron microscopy Fiber analyzers (length, width, coarseness, curl, kinks, amount of vessel elements) Light microscopy Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 3C-tomography
12/12/2012 9 Participation in FIBIC programmes former Forest Cluster EffNet EffFibre Fubio Efficient Networking towards Novel Products and Processes (2010 2013) Value through intensive and efficient fibre supply (2010-2013) Future Biorefinery Joint Research 2 Cellulose
12/12/2012 10 VTT 70 years technology for business and society