Water vapor mass transport across nanofibrillated cellulose films: effect of surface hydrophobization
Journal article, 2018

In this paper, porous nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) films were utilized to produce water-resistant, porous cellulose films. Film porosities of similar to 50% were achieved through solvent exchange from water to acetone, and the resulting films were hydrophobized with an epoxy modifier in non-swelling conditions in acetone, yielding films that were non-wettable by water but permeable to water vapor. The mass transport mechanisms of gaseous and liquid water were studied by water vapor transfer rate (WVTR), water vapor uptake and water contact angle measurements to unfold how these properties were achieved. Surface hydrophobization was found to decrease the moisture uptake but it did not prevent it completely. The WVTR values were in effect similar for the initial and hydrophobized films, even if the water contact angles were higher in the latter. We anticipate that the porous and hydrophobic NFC films presented in this paper may find applications in sportswear, medical, or personal hygiene products.

Surface hydrophobization

Water vapor transport rate

Cellulose films

Nanofibrillated cellulose

Water mass transport

Author

Iina Solala

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

SuMo Biomaterials

Romain Bordes

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

SuMo Biomaterials

Anette Larsson

SuMo Biomaterials

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Cellulose

0969-0239 (ISSN) 1572882x (eISSN)

Vol. 25 1 347-356

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology

Polymer Technologies

Areas of Advance

Production

Materials Science

DOI

10.1007/s10570-017-1608-z

More information

Latest update

8/18/2020