Automatic Shape Observation and Efficient LengthMeasurement of Fiber Length/Diameter of CelluloseNanofibers

Introduction

Cellulose is a polysaccharide which is the main component of plant cell walls. Among nanocellulose obtained by defibrating cellulose to the nanometer size, fibers with a diameter of several nm to around 100 nm are called cellulose nanofiber (CNF). CNF has attracted attention as a leading-edge biomass new material. In addition to offering a combination of light weight and high strength, CNF also has other outstanding functions, such as a high gas barrier property, adsorption property, and transparency. Moreover, because CNF is derived from plant fiber, environmental loads related to production and disposal are minimal. Future applications are expected to include automotive components, electronic materials, and packaging materials, among others. Because the fiber length and diameter of CNF are thought to influence the physical properties of CNF composites, there is a heightened need for characterization of single CNF fibers in development and manufacturing. However, improvement of characterization efficiency has become an issue, as shape observation and length/diameter measurement of several thousand individual fibers are necessary in characterization of CNF. This article introduces an example of automatic shape observation/length measurement of CNF by using a scanning probe microscope (SPM).

July 25, 2019 GMT