Applications

Paper

Celova is produced from the same raw material as paper and therefore shows high affinity to pulp fibers and is compatible with standard paper making chemicals.

Due to the fine network structure and high surface area microfibrillated cellulose exhibits a high bonding potential. The increase in hydrogen bonding in paper leads to improved wet strength as well as better mechanical properties in the final product. Additionally, surface roughness and porosity can be tuned.

The use of Celova in paper making allows to reduce material costs and improve productivity.

Packaging

With its unique properties Celova opens up new possibilites for the packaging industry and drives the development for sustainable and recycable packaging solutions. Apart from reducing packaging weight by increasing the mechanical properties of the board, Celova can also improve barrier properties.

Celova allows you to replace synthetic materials that prevent the recycling of a otherwise recyable packaging (i.e. liquid packaging boards).

Coatings

Celova provides the opportunity to use a sustainable and recyclable material to create highly functional coatings in various paper and non-woven based materials.

Research has shown that microfibrillated cellulose can increase the oxygen barrier properties as well as grease proofing. It has also been observed that the addition of the material can reduce crack propagation in coatings. Furthermore, Celova can be used as a general process aid to control viscosity, sedimentation behavior and spreadability.

Paints

With its fine network structure Celova is able to trap the pigments and evenly distribute them in the suspension. In water-based paints microfibrillated cellulose can thus be used to prevent sedimentation, distribution and yield of pigments.  Additionally, the thixotropic (shear thinning) characteristic of Celova makes it ideal as a rheology modifier without reducing spray- or spreadability.

Personal Care

Celova is the new natural alternative to synthetic additives for personal care. 

Thickening of natural surfactant systems can be easily achieved with Celova without compromising in the sensorial effects of the formula. The unique micro-network structure of Celova allows to stabilize instable emulsions and to work as a dispersion aid for pigments and other solid particles. The skin feel of Celova containing formulations is rich but dry and velvety. Once applied on the skin, it shows mattifying and soft focus effect.

This cold processable and water dispersible cosmetic ingredient is stable in a wide pH range (2-12) and tolerates high salt concentration. The sheer-thinning properties allows to formulate sprayable products with high standing viscosity. Celova is white, odorless and is expected to be COSMOS compliant.

Food

Cellulose is an insoluble dietary fiber and can be used as a vegan, gluten- and fat free additive. While microcrystalline cellulose is already widely used in the food industry, microfibrillated cellulose offers new possibilities. In comparison to microcrystalline cellulose, Celova does not consist of rigid particles but is built up by a flexible network of fibrils that have crystalline and amorphous regions. 

Due to its pH stability (2 – 12) and high salt tolerance, Celova can be used as a thickener for a wide range of foods and beverages. The natural additive is also able to stabilize suspensions and emulsions. 

Filtration

For non-woven based filters Celova is a great alternative to standard binders. Not only is the material natural but its fine network structure of cellulose fibrils is ideal to trap particles in it. Furthermore, due to the high surface area and thus high amount of accessible hydroxyl groups, Celova can be chemically modified to catch molecules and ions.

Environmental Remediation

This new, absorbant material from EMPA wood research (EMPA is the German acronym for the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology) could be of assistance in future oil spill accidents: a chemically modified microcellulosic aerogel. The light-weight material absorbs the oil spill, remains floating on the water surface and can then be recovered. The absorbent is produced in an environmentally-friendly manner from recycled paper, wood or agricultural by-products. It can be produced without chemical modification, or modified to empart the aerogel with hydrophobic and oleophilic properties amongst others.

Weidmann Fiber Technology is working with EMPA and ETH Zurich to industrialize the production process and commercialize the aerogels.

Art Conservation

The use of films made of Celova is a very effective solution for some specific problems experienced with museum objects and could be a perfect solution for other problems on a wide range of media, such as graphic, photographic and cinematographic artworks and documents, old or contemporary, made of translucent or transparent sup­ports.

See our blog post for more inspiration on how to use MFC in the world of art conservation.