VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND

www.vtt.fi

Nanocellulose films
- environmentally safe alternative
J. Vartiainen V. Kunnari T. Kaljunen T. Tammelin U. Backman M. Vikman M. Pitknen H. Kangas
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT

Film production
VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a
semi-industrial roll-to-roll pilot-line for coating and surface
treatments of various fiber- and plastic based webs and films.
SutCo surface treatment concept includes several coating
methods, pre-treatments and curing options. SutCo-concept
was successfully utilized in production of nanocellulose films4.
Nanocellulose dispersion was carefully pre-homogenized and
then casted onto moving web using a specific feeding head. In
feeding head the nanocellulose formed an even and uniform
layer with controlled thickness. Spreading and adhesion
between the web and aqueous film forming dispersion was
carefully fixed with physical pre-activation. After drying, the film
was finally delaminated from the web and rewinded into rolls.

Film properties

Nanocellulose
is one of the most promising innovations for the modern forest
sector. In the near future, nanocellulose may have a wide range
of potential application areas such as paper, packaging,
concrete, oil drilling, cosmetics, feed and composite
applications. Several surveys on the toxicity of nanocellulose
have been done using well-characterized in vitro tests
commonly applied in toxicity testing protocols. The results
indicated absence of cytotoxic and genotoxic properties as well
as absence of effects on inflammatory system of nanocellulose
studied1,2, thus using nanocellulose films as packaging
materials does not pose any direct safety risks to human health
or the environment. However, new regulations and
recommendations regarding nanomaterials should be taken into
account when the compliance of nanocellulose film for food
contact is evaluated. At present some recommendations exists,
however, hopefully the current confusion of nanomaterials
regulations and their appliance will be clarified in the near
future3.

Nanocellulose film was 20 m thick, strong, translucent and

easy-to-handle. Films had superb oxygen barrier properties
even at high humidity (0.8 cm3 mm/m2/day; 23C, 80% RH).
Films had smooth and shiny surface, great visual appearance
and excellent printing properties. Films were also impermeable
to grease and mechanically very strong (Youngs modulus 10
GPa). Plasticization with glycerin improved the processability,
but decreased the mechanical strength and barrier properties
against oxygen. Based on preliminary tests migration from
plasticized film seems to be higher than migration from films
without plasticizer. Films degraded completely in pilot-scale
composting test (modified EN 10145) and added nanocellulose
did not decrease the degradation rate of paper. Only moisture
sensitivity and high affinity towards water may hinder the
technical applicability of nanocellulose films in the
environmentally safe packaging applications.
1) Pitknen, M., Sneck, A., Hentze, H.P., Sievnen, J., Hiltunen, J., Helln, E., Honkalampi, U., von Wright, A.
Nanofibrillar cellulose Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic properties in vitro. Presentation in TAPPI International
Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry, Sep 27-29, 2010, Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland.
2) Vartiainen, J., Phler, T., Sirola, K., Pylkknen, L., Alenius, H., Hokkinen, J., Tapper, U., Lahtinen, P., Kapanen, A.,
Putkisto, K., Hiekkataipale, P., Eronen, P., Ruokolainen, J., Laukkanen, A. 2011. Health and environmental safety
aspects of friction grinding and spray drying of microfibrillated cellulose. Cellulose 18:775-786.
3) Kangas, H., Pitknen, M., Sneck, A., Tanaka, A., Forsstrm, U. Assessing the characteristics and safety of
nanocellulose consensus and co-operation on national, European and international level. Presentation in 2012
Tappi International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials. June 4-7, 2012. Montreal, Quebec,
Canada.
4) Tammelin, T.; Salminen, A.; Hippi, U. 2011, Patent application FI20116048

Acknowledgements
The nanocellulose film production was carried out in the Naseva2 Tailoring
of Nanocellulose Structures for Industrial Applications project by the
Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes) that is
included in the Finnish Centre for Nanocellulosic Technologies project entity
formed by UPM, VTT and Aalto University. Nanocellulose grade used was
UPM Biofibrils supplied by UPM-Kymmene.
The work was also supported by the European Commission under grant
number 247989 (NanoSustain Development of sustainable solutions for
nano-technology-based products based on hazard characterisation and LCA).
Finally, the work was also part of Efficient Networking Towards Novel
Products and Processes (EffNet) program of Finnish Bioeconomy Cluster
FIBIC Oy. The EffNet programme has received funding from Tekes the
Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation and Forestcluster
Ltd.