Home ›

Companies unify viscosity measurement for nanocellulose

Submitted by Outi Lemettinen on 26 January, 2012 - 13:21

In Forestcluster Ltd’s EffNet program energy- and resource-efficient paper and board manufacturing technology are developed for example by using nanocellulose. As part of this program Stora Enso, Kemira, UPM-Kymmene and VTT are decided to unify the viscosity measurement for nanocelluloses. The development of the method was started a few years ago at the beginning of the program.

Viscosity measurement is one way to characterize the properties of nanocelluloses and it is also well suited to their quality control. The standardized measurement techniques are important for the comparison of nanocellulose characteristics both at the development and the marketing stages of the products. The partners’ aim is to promote the standardization of the measurement method also internationally.

The unifying viscosity measurement was launched in November at VTT by the selection of measurement methodology and the comparison of measuring devices used by the partners. Procedure includes the processing of the sample, measurement, and the calculation and the processing of the results.
 
“The challenge is to get the measurement method to suit different types of samples. The measuring devices have differences as well, which affect the measurement results. The project aims to obtain comparable results regardless of the instrument” says Senior Scientist Asko Sneck from VTT.
 
More information:

VTT
Senior Scientist Asko Sneck
puh. 020 722 7508, asko.sneck@vtt.fi