We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Energy absorption and resilience in quasi-static loading of foam-formed cellulose fibre materials
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated lightweight foam-formed cellulose fibre materials as potential replacements for fossil-based plastic cushioning in packaging applications. They tested a wide range of material compositions and densities, finding that fibre type and refining significantly influenced energy absorption and resilience during compression. The study demonstrates that cellulose-based foams could provide adequate mechanical protection for packaging while avoiding the microplastic pollution associated with conventional plastic foams.
Abstract To avoid microplastic pollution, there is an urgent need to replace fossil-based cushioning materials in packaging with easily recyclable alternatives. Here, we investigated the potential of lightweight cellulose fibre materials as a solution for mechanical protection. The quasi-static compression was studied among a vast set of 129 different foam-formed trial points with material density ranging from 21 kg/m 3 to 123 kg/m 3 . The trial points included two different fibre types, bleached softwood kraft pulp (BSKP) and bleached chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP), with varied refining level, pulp consistency, foaming conditions, surfactant type, strength additives, and final material density and thickness. Besides a correlation analysis of factors affecting compression stress and resilience, the results were reflected against a new theoretical prediction of energy absorption for an ideal low-density random fibre network. The theory predicts the initially-high cushion factor to rapidly drop down to the level of 4‒5 at 40‒80% compression. A similar behaviour was seen among the actual samples, despite their various non-ideal features. At 50% compression, the average cushion factor across the whole data set was 4.84 ± 0.10, being close to the theoretical prediction of 4.61 for the ideal case. The smallest cushion factor of 3.6 was found for a CTMP sample. The recovery from compression varied slightly among the samples and appeared highest for the material density of 60‒100 kg/m 3 , following the predicted proportion of non-buckled fibre segments. According to the results, cellulose fibre-based cushions have a soft initial response, which is preferable for fragile items. Graphical abstract
More Papers Like This
Energy Absorption and Resilience in Quasi-Static Loading of Foam-Formed Cellulose Fibre Materials
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated foam-formed cellulose fibre materials as biodegradable replacements for fossil-based plastic cushioning in packaging, testing 129 trial formulations with densities from 21 to 123 kg per cubic meter to characterize quasi-static energy absorption and mechanical resilience properties.
Lightweight and eco-friendly methyl cellulose foams featuring moisture-induced form interlocking: A versatile alternative to conventional plastic foams.
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers fabricated a fully biodegradable methyl cellulose foam using only mechanical agitation and oven drying—no chemical additives—yielding an ultra-low-density material with 99% porosity, strong thermal insulation, and moisture-activated form-interlocking capability that positions it as a viable sustainable substitute for petroleum-based plastic foams.
Leaf-Inspired Hierarchical All-Natural Foams with Ultralow Shrinkage, Mechanical Robustness, and Flame Retardancy via Ambient-Pressure Drying
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sturdy, lightweight foam from natural materials, bamboo fibers, seaweed extract, and clay, that could replace plastic foam packaging without breaking down into microplastics or contributing to plastic pollution. This new foam is fire-resistant, biodegradable, and holds its shape well during production, making it a promising eco-friendly alternative for insulation and packaging that avoids the environmental and health concerns tied to petroleum-based foams.
Developing Cellulose-based Foams from Cotton Waste
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed biodegradable foams from recycled cotton cellulose, incorporating glass bubbles for fire resistance and silane-treated polyester fiber for water repellency, producing composite materials that matched or outperformed conventional petroleum-based foams while diverting textile waste from landfill.
Renewable cellulosic nanocomposites for food packaging to avoid fossil fuel plastic pollution: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how cellulose nanoparticles extracted from plant biomass can replace petroleum-based plastics in food packaging, finding that adding just 1–5% cellulose nanoparticles significantly improves strength, reduces oxygen and water vapor permeability, and keeps packaging biodegradable. The review positions cellulose nanocomposites as a scalable, eco-friendly alternative to fossil-fuel plastics that contribute to microplastic pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.