Nanocellulose-based Composites vs Conventional Composites

October 12, 2021

Introduction

Over the years, composites have been used in various applications, ranging from construction to automotive sectors. The materials used for making composites typically include glass fibers, carbon fibers, and aramid (Kevlar) fibers. These materials have proven to be very useful, but nowadays, there is a new player in town. The one that has been stealing the spotlight lately: nanocellulose-based composites.

In this blog post, we are going to compare the properties of nanocellulose-based composites and conventional composites.

What is Nanocellulose?

In case you don't know, nanocellulose is a material that is extracted from natural sources such as wood, grass, and cotton. This material is composed of cellulose nanofibers or cellulose nanocrystals.

Comparison

Stiffness and Strength

When it comes to stiffness, nanocellulose-based composites outperform their conventional counterparts. According to research, nanocellulose-based composites have a modulus of up to 86 GPa. On the other hand, conventional composites made from glass fibers have a modulus of 70 GPa. In terms of strength, nanocellulose-based composites have a strength of up to 1200 MPa, while conventional composites made from carbon fibers have a strength of up to 1100 MPa.

Weight

The weight of a composite material plays a crucial role in its performance. Nanocellulose-based composites are known for their lightweight nature. According to research, the density of nanocellulose-based composites is around 1.2 g/cm^3, while conventional composites made from carbon fibers have a density of around 1.6 g/cm^3. This means that nanocellulose-based composites are around 25% lighter than conventional composites.

Cost

Cost is always an important factor that one has to consider when choosing a material for a particular application. Nanocellulose-based composites are still in the developmental stage, meaning they can be quite expensive to manufacture. On the other hand, conventional composites have been in use for decades and have a well-established manufacturing process. Therefore, conventional composites tend to be cheaper than nanocellulose-based composites.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both nanocellulose-based composites and conventional composites have their advantages and disadvantages. Nanocellulose-based composites are lightweight and have excellent stiffness, but they can be expensive to manufacture. Conventional composites, on the other hand, have been in use for decades, have a well-established manufacturing process and tend to be cheaper.

In the long run, it is hard to determine which one will win the race, but for now, both materials have found their unique niche in various fields of application.