Nanocellulose Surface Coated Support Material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of a surface coated support material wherein said process comprises contacting a support material with an aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose. The surface coated support material can be used in a composite material. The invention therefore further relates to the surface coated support material per se, a composite comprising the material, a process for the production of the composite material and an article produced from the composite material.

1 . A process for the production of a surface coated support material; comprising
 contacting a support material with an aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose.   
     
     
         2 . The process as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support is immersed or dipped in the aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose. 
     
     
         3 . The process as claimed in  claims 1  to  2  further comprising the steps of
 removing the coated support material from the dispersion; and 
 optionally drying the support material. 
 
     
     
         4 . The process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the support material is dried at 70 to 90° C. 
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the support material is dried by layering the support material between two pieces of absorbent material, followed by drying in an air oven at 30 to 50° C. 
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the coated support material is removed from the dispersion by filtration and dried at 50 to 70° C. 
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in claim any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the dispersion of nanocellulose is prepared by mixing the nanocellulose with water. 
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the support material is a hydrophilic polymer or a hydrophilic fibre. 
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8  wherein the support material is one or more selected from wheat gluten, corn zein, wool, cellulose, starch or a fibre extracted from one or more of abaca, bamboo, banana, coir, coconut husk, cotton, flax, henequen, hemp, hop, jute, palm, ramie or sisal. 
     
     
         10 . A surface coated support material obtainable by the process of any one of  claims 1  to  9 . 
     
     
         11 . A support material surface coated with nanocellulose having a portion of the coating in contact with the support surface, the fibres of said portion of the coating having at least a portion of their longitudinal axis in contact with the support surface. 
     
     
         12 . A support material surface coated with nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose of the coating is orientated perpendicular to the support surface. 
     
     
         13 . A support material surface coated with nanocellulose, wherein the support material is bound together by the nanocellulose. 
     
     
         14 . A composite material comprising a reinforcement and a matrix wherein the reinforcement comprises a surface coated support material obtainable by the process of any one of  claims 1  to  9  or as claimed in any one of  claims 11  to  13 . 
     
     
         15 . The composite material as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the matrix is one or more selected from poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA, bacterial polyesters), cellulose pulp, modified cellulose polymers (cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) or cellulose butyrate) or acrylated epoxidised soybean oil (AESO) or epoxidised linseed oil. 
     
     
         16 . A composite material comprising a reinforcement and a matrix wherein the matrix comprises a surface coated support material obtainable by the process of any one of  claims 1  to  9  or as claimed in any one of  claims 11  to  13 . 
     
     
         17 . A process for the production of a composite material as claimed in any one of  claims 14  to  16 , wherein the reinforcement comprising a surface coated support material obtainable by the process of any one of  claims 1  to  9  or as claimed in any one of  claims 11  to  13  is impregnated, mixed or extruded with a matrix or wherein a reinforcement is impregnated, mixed or extruded with a matrix comprising a surface coated support material obtainable by the process of any one of  claims 1  to  9  or as claimed in any one of  claims 11  to  13 . 
     
     
         18 . A process for the production of a composite material comprising the steps of:
 contacting a support material with an aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose, wherein the aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose further comprises a matrix material;   removing the composite material from the dispersion by filtration, preferably vacuum filtration; and   optionally drying the composite material.   
     
     
         19 . An article produced from a composite material as claimed in any one of  claims 14  to  16 . 
     
     
         20 . A process as substantially described herein with reference to one or more of the examples. 
     
     
         21 . A support material as substantially described herein with reference to one or more of the examples. 
     
     
         22 . A composite material as substantially described herein with reference to one or more of the examples.