Posted August 24, 2015

 

By Seshadri Ramkumar

 

LUBBOCK, Texas – Herty Advanced Materials Development Center (HAMDC) at Georgia Southern University recently opened an Advanced Chemical Processing facility that can help with the development of high-performance and bio-based materials such as nanocrystalline cellulose.

 

According to a release from Herty, the new center will be able to process materials ranging from minerals to polymers that have many advanced applications in automotive and aerospace industries.

 

“Nanocellulose has strength similar to Kevlar and is a promising biomaterial for advanced composite applications in the automotive and aerospace sectors,” said Dr. Omar Ali, director of BioProducts at Herty.

 

The new facility has 500 L reactor that can be used for mixing, can undertake multicomponent reactions and has superior drying capability. The new reactor offers a powerful platform for giving the U.S. industry innovative materials from plastics to specialty coating, according to Walter Chappas, Herty’s advanced materials group director.

 

Nanocellulose is strong, renewable raw material that can be used to develop advanced composites. In recent years, there is a growing interest in this material and organizations such as the Technological Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) are providing many platforms to support the growth of the material.

 

According to FP Innovations, by 2020, the North American market for nanocellulose will be about $250 million.

 

Seshadri Ramkumar, PhD, FTA (honorary) is a professor of Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory at Texas Tech University.