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The secret of fiber: Why cellulose fiber is the future of environmentally friendly materials?
With the increasing global demand for sustainable development and environmentally friendly materials, cellulose fiber has gradually entered the public eye. Cellulose, a natural polysaccharide, is ubiquitously present in plant cell walls. This material not only does not cause pollution to the environment, but also returns to natural decomposition, making it an ideal substitute and showing great potential especially in the fields of textiles, composite materials and filtration technology.
Cellulose’s environmentally friendly properties are due to its renewable origin, which is particularly attractive in today’s market.
The history of cellulose
The discovery of cellulose dates back to 1838, when French chemist Anselme Payet first isolated and determined its chemical structure. In the 1840s, cellulose was used to create the first successful thermoplastic polymer, celluloid. Until the 1890s, cellulose began to be used to produce rayon (i.e. artificial fiber). With the rise of facial fibers and beauty products, cellulose fibers have become an important force in the modern textile industry.
From art to technology, cellulose’s versatility has earned it a place in the ever-evolving landscape of materials science.
Structure and properties of cellulose
The molecular structure of cellulose consists of repeating glucose units connected in straight chains to form highly ordered microfibrils. This structure gives cellulose excellent strength and rigidity, making it superior to other similar materials in terms of tensile strength and wear resistance. Unlike maltose and other complex carbohydrates, cellulose cannot be broken down by animal enzymes, a property unique to its structure.
Due to its unique linear structure, cellulose exhibits minimal interaction with water, which results in excellent mechanical properties and environmental stability.
Types of cellulose
Natural cellulose fiber
Natural cellulose fiber can be extracted directly from plants and can be used after slight processing. For example, cotton and linen fibers are both intuitively identifiable as products of their original plants. These fibers have excellent mechanical strength and corrosion resistance and are not only environmentally friendly but also durable.
Manufacturing cellulose fibers
Cellulose fiber is produced by processing plant materials into slurry and extruding them. Products such as man-made fibers such as Rayon are widely used in the textile industry and other industrial fields.
Applications of cellulose fiber
Composite materials
Many composite materials achieve the perfect balance of strength and toughness by combining cellulose fibers with a resin matrix. Cellulose's low density and good recyclability make it an alternative to glass fiber and carbon fiber, and is increasingly valued in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Textile industry
In the textile industry, cellulosic fibers such as rayon and molding materials are replaced by traditional synthetic fibers, which are widely favored for their superior breathability and comfort.
Filter media
The filtration application of cellulose fiber has received increasing attention in the fields of chemical industry and biotechnology. It has good penetrability and cleaning efficiency, and can effectively filter out suspended solids and heavy metal ions in water.
Through innovative technology and design, the application potential of cellulose fibers in various industries is expanding beyond traditional material limitations.
Environmental issues
Although the so-called "bamboo fiber" on the market seems to be very environmentally friendly at first glance, in fact most of it is bamboo pulp that has undergone high-intensity processing, and the environmental impact of its production process cannot be underestimated. In contrast, harvesting and growing bamboo may in some cases be more sustainable than harvesting traditional trees, which requires careful consideration in material selection.
Faced with increasing environmental challenges and resource depletion, can cellulose fiber solve the sustainability issues of our current material needs and become the core choice of environmentally friendly materials in the future?
