Nguyen Khai Hoang Nguyen

Elucidating the multiscale behavior of cellulose fibrils in flow as well as when formed into films remains a challenge but is key to control their hierarchical structures, which affect rheology, film strength and interaction with light. Shear-aligned nanocrystals give structural color, so printing cellulose suspensions could avoid the use of toxic inks on bio-based packaging. We will also study nanocellulose films: film flexibility, strength, and response to humidity are key for packaging. This project will combine rheology, polarized light imaging and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) on suspensions and dynamic mechanical analysis with SAXS on thin films in new simultaneous measurements, developed at MAX IV. This project will be the first to apply these combined techniques to link cellulose nanostructures with macroscale properties to enable development of rationally engineered materials. The project will study both aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanofibrils and suspensions in novel deep eutectic solvents to better understand the role of solvent as well as fibril characteristics in suspension behavior and cast film properties. The X-ray scattering work will be carried out largely at MAX IV and other neutron and synchrotron X-ray scattering facilities in the UK and Europe. Rheology will also be done in the Rheology and Processing of Soft Matter group at Chalmers to use the advanced equipment available there.