The problem of water pollution because of dyes and colouring agents could soon be solved—through the usage of nanoscopic particles extracted from wood.
The Department of Forest Biomaterials at the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, US, has developed a process that uses nanocellulose to "produce clothing items with iridescent features resembling the rainbow-hued shimmer seen on fish scales, bird feathers and insect bodies."
What is nanocellulose: Nanocellulose is a naturally occurring substance extracted from cellulose—the main substance of a plant’s cell walls. It’s divided into two types: nanocrystals and nanofibrils, both of which are biodegradable and non-toxic. The former is also stronger than steel.
The project: The research team was led by Nathalie Lavoine, an assistant professor in the department. The funding for the project has come from the Fund Program.
The process: Cellulose is first extracted from wood chips and the pulp used in papermaking. This is then combined with water, treating the resulting mixture with acid to uncover nanocrystals. The mixture is subsequently purified to remove undesired components.
Once the purification process is complete, the mixture is added to frames so that it can solidify into plastic-like films. Then, using a computer-aided design table, the films are cut into shapes and patterns that can be printed on to clothing items.
The gap: The researchers have not yet figured out how to provide all colours, and they are still testing the application of nanocellulose on a variety of other items.
The announcement: The researchers recently presented their work at the 2022 ACCelerate Festival in Washington, D.C.
The explanation:
Textile mills use dyes and other coloration agents that are very toxic. Using nanocellulose is a way forward to sustainable processing. Researchers have known how to make iridescent films with these nanoparticles. But until now, there was no way to apply these particles to textiles.
