Researchers from VTT Technical Research Center in Finland have created a new coating using nanocellulose.
Nanocellulose naturally adheres to wood and forms an airtight film on the surface. This makes nanocellulose-based coatings a good fit for protective wood treatments.
The coating is based on HefCel technology — High-Consistency Enzymatic Fibrillation of Cellulose — which was developed and patented by VTT.
The coating can be sprayed or brushed on to the wood and it works by reducing the access of oxygen to the surface. The coating could make a significant impact on the coatings market, particularly in construction materials.
The researchers recently designed new equipment that more efficiently and cost-effectively manufactures larger batches of HefCel and have seen promising results from its initial run.
Next, the researchers are looking to potentially commercialize the technology, which could be a possible fit for the paint industry, packaging, composites or simply as a coating-industry raw material.
