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High barrier and mechanically resistant three-dimensional (3D) cellulosic objects were produced using cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and the molded cellulose process. The main objective is to improve properties of objects made by molding conventional papermaking fibers such as egg box. This well-known process, currently used for the production of low-end cellulose packaging, was simulated using 3D-printed polycarbonate porous molds, dewatering, and heat compression stages. CNF produced by twin screw extrusion, which possess good barrier properties and transparency, were used as the base material, and different methods were used to form the cellulosic mats. Different drying techniques were tested in order to produce a transparent object and minimize the shrinkage of CNF upon drying, that is, oven-drying, thermo-pressing, microwave-drying, freeze-drying, or a combination. CNF cellulosic mats were easily formed, but due to the important shrinkage of CNF, none of the mat formation or drying techniques yielded transparent and dimensionally stable 3D objects.
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Rol et al. (2020) studied this question.
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