Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry

byHoward Rosen, Staff, Washington OfficeTed Wegner, Assistant Director, Forest Products Laboratory USDA Forest Service

November 16, 2006

Presentation Presentation OverviewOverview

Nanotechnology overviewNanotechnology overview Federal/public perspectives Federal/public perspectives

on forest productson forest products Federal Government Federal Government

integrated role in advancing integrated role in advancing nanotechnology in the forest nanotechnology in the forest products industryproducts industry

Definition of Definition of NanotechnolgyNanotechnolgy

Scale: 1 nm – 100 nm (1 nm = 1 Scale: 1 nm – 100 nm (1 nm = 1 billionth or 10billionth or 10-9-9of a meter)of a meter)

Creating nanoscale size materials Creating nanoscale size materials does not mean nanotechnology is does not mean nanotechnology is involvedinvolved

Material must have unique Material must have unique properties (e.g. electrical, physical, properties (e.g. electrical, physical, chemical, optical) that are different chemical, optical) that are different that the bulk propertiesthat the bulk properties

Achieving those unique properties Achieving those unique properties must be repeatable and controllablemust be repeatable and controllable

Nanomaterials Opportunities

• Solve major societal problems

(e.g. energy, medicine, environment, manufacturing, communications, computing, and security)

• Energize the economy for decades

- Revitalize existing businesses (e.g. forest products)

- Boost competitiveness globally

- Create entirely new industries

Nanomaterials offer the potential for unprecedented material performance that could

The race for global leadership in nanotechnology is underway

Source: October 2004 Lux Research Report

Per capita and total use of roundwood for products

0

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801965

1967

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Total consumption

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Millions of Cubic Metres

Percent of Total World Production

Non-Tropical

Tropical

The United States is the The United States is the Largest Producer of Industrial Largest Producer of Industrial

WoodWood

50%

63%

75%

80%

78%

75%

96%

85%

40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

HouseholdFurniture

SoftwoodLumber

OSB &Plywood

Paper &Paperboard

19902002

Domestically produced shares of the U.S. market have declined for most wood products

Impact of Global Impact of Global CompetitionCompetition

Soot :Soot : Contains Value

Cellulose nanofiber bundles

6 Assembly proteins (rosette) which produces cellulose nanofibers

Candace Haigler and Larry Blanton, Cellulose: “You're surrounded by it, but did you know it was there?”

jupiter.phys.ttu.edu/corner/1999/dec99.pdf www.ita.doc.gov/td/forestprod/

Cellulose Synthesis and Material Production: Nature Working Across a Length Scale >1010!

~28nm

Source: Jeffery Catchmark , Penn State UniversitySource: Jeffery Catchmark , Penn State University

Nanotechnology & WoodNanotechnology & Wood

One of the most abundant biological raw materials-One of the most abundant biological raw materials-ubiquitousubiquitous

Nano-fibrilar structureNano-fibrilar structure Self-assembly—controlledSelf-assembly—controlled Lignocellulose as a nanomaterial and its interact Lignocellulose as a nanomaterial and its interact

with other nanomaterials is largely unexploredwith other nanomaterials is largely unexplored Capacity to be made multifunctionalCapacity to be made multifunctional New analytical techniques adapted to biomaterials New analytical techniques adapted to biomaterials

are beginning to allow us to see new possibilitiesare beginning to allow us to see new possibilities A cornerstone for advancing the biomass-based A cornerstone for advancing the biomass-based

renewable & sustainable economy renewable & sustainable economy

Wood / LignocelluloseWood / Lignocellulose

America Needs a Strong America Needs a Strong Forest Products IndustryForest Products Industry

Outlet for forest biomass that needs Outlet for forest biomass that needs to be removed to reduce fuel load and to be removed to reduce fuel load and improve forest health & condition improve forest health & condition

Forest biomass sales offset the cost of Forest biomass sales offset the cost of forest management on public landsforest management on public lands

Helps prevent conversion of privately Helps prevent conversion of privately –held forestland to non-forest uses–held forestland to non-forest uses

Makes use of a National strategic Makes use of a National strategic asset to provide jobs, fuel the asset to provide jobs, fuel the economy, and meet the needs of economy, and meet the needs of people for material needspeople for material needs

Nanotechnology can help reinvent the forest products

industry

Technology is the major driving factor for growth at every level of an economy and is a key factor in enabling competitive advantage in the market place

New, higher profit products, based upon pioneering, innovative technology creation, are needed

Lighter weight, stronger, multifunctional materials from wood New products New markets New functionalities

Federal Role in Nanotechnology R&D

Support sustainable forestry and Support sustainable forestry and sustainable forest products as a positive sustainable forest products as a positive economic, social, and ecological force economic, social, and ecological force within the Nationwithin the Nation

Promote, conduct, and support high risk, Promote, conduct, and support high risk, fundamental nanotechnology research fundamental nanotechnology research

Acquire and maintain state of the art Acquire and maintain state of the art Federal R&D nanotechnology facilities Federal R&D nanotechnology facilities and provide access to unique and cost and provide access to unique and cost effective research facilities and effective research facilities and capacities with other partners to move capacities with other partners to move the US forest-based economy forwardthe US forest-based economy forward

64%

30%

3%3%

Industry

Federal Government

University

Non-Profit

Source of R&D Funds 2003

2003 R&D Spending $283 Billion

Source: National Science Foundation

All R&D in the United States

October 17 - 19, 2004October 17 - 19, 2004

www.nanotechforest.owww.nanotechforest.orgrg

NanotechnologNanotechnology Workshop y Workshop

For the Forest For the Forest Products Products IndustryIndustry

Nanotechnology Roadmap:Nanotechnology Roadmap:Priority R&D AreasPriority R&D Areas

Polymer Composites and Nano-Reinforced Polymer Composites and Nano-Reinforced MaterialsMaterials

Self-Assembly and BiomimeticsSelf-Assembly and Biomimetics

Cell-Wall NanotechnologyCell-Wall Nanotechnology

Sensors, Processing, and Process ControlsSensors, Processing, and Process Controls

Analytic Methods for Nanostructure Analytic Methods for Nanostructure CharacterizationCharacterization

Nanotechnology Task Group Nanotechnology Task Group GoalsGoals

Link nanotechnology with other Link nanotechnology with other Agenda 2020 platforms through Agenda 2020 platforms through Technology RoadmapTechnology Roadmap

Establish a Brain Trust to identify 3 Establish a Brain Trust to identify 3 - 4 priority areas- 4 priority areas

Organize annual Nanotechnology Organize annual Nanotechnology Conference Conference

-Focal point for industry / -Focal point for industry / academia / governmentacademia / government

OO22

Agenda 2020 Focus for the FutureAgenda 2020 Focus for the FutureMeeting the Challenge of DeploymentMeeting the Challenge of Deployment

COCO22

SustainableSustainable Forest ProductivityForest Productivity

Extracting Value prior to PulpingExtracting Value prior to Pulping

New Value from Residuals New Value from Residuals & Spent Liquors& Spent Liquors

Advancing the Forest “Bio-refinery” Advancing the Forest “Bio-refinery”

Breakthrough Mfg. Breakthrough Mfg. TechnologiesTechnologies MajorMajor Manufacturing Manufacturing Cost/Capital ReductionCost/Capital ReductionSignificant EnhancementSignificant Enhancement in Product Properties in Product Properties with Existing Assetswith Existing AssetsSubstantial Improvement Substantial Improvement in Energy Efficiency for in Energy Efficiency for Existing Processes Existing Processes

Advancing the Wood Advancing the Wood Products RevolutionProducts Revolution Improved Building SystemsImproved Building Systems

Reduced System CostsReduced System Costs

Next Generation Next Generation Fiber RecoveryFiber Recoveryand Utilizationand Utilization Recycled Fiber Recycled Fiber Indistinguishable Indistinguishable from Virgin Fiberfrom Virgin Fiber

Positively Impacting the EnvironmentPositively Impacting the EnvironmentSignificant Reduction in Greenhouse GasesSignificant Reduction in Greenhouse Gases

Decreased Ecological FootprintDecreased Ecological Footprint

Technologically Advanced WorkforceTechnologically Advanced WorkforceFrom Workforce to Knowledge Workers in 7 yearsFrom Workforce to Knowledge Workers in 7 years

Nanotechnology Deployment Nanotechnology Deployment StrategiesStrategies

Adapt & Deploy Adapt & Deploy Existing Existing NanotechnologiesNanotechnologies Reduces costs by Reduces costs by

leveraging existing leveraging existing investmentsinvestments

Shortest time to Shortest time to deploymentdeployment

Exploits existing Exploits existing nanotechnology nanotechnology knowledge baseknowledge base

Adds value and Adds value and functionality to functionality to existing productsexisting products

Create & Deploy Create & Deploy Novel New Novel New NanotechnologiesNanotechnologies Exploits the unique Exploits the unique

nanoscale components nanoscale components and properties of woodand properties of wood

Enables new Enables new generations of cost generations of cost effective products & effective products & materialsmaterials

Exploits the full Exploits the full potential of wood as potential of wood as the material for the the material for the 2121stst Century Century

Achieves maximum Achieves maximum efficiency of material efficiency of material useuse

Focus Area 1: Improve strength weight performance Target

•40% fewer materials for same performance•60# performance with 45# CWF•Mechanical (bonding ) and optical performances

Focus Area 2: Forest Nanomaterials•Liberation and use of nanocellulose•Other nanomaterials from bio-resource•Non covalent disassembly/reassembly nano-fractionalization and nano-catalysis for separations•Entropic effects in the assembly and disassembly of nanomaterials in forestry

Focus Area 3 : Understanding the control of water-lignocellulose interaction for modification of properties

•Water removal and in the end product•Energy cost of water, fiber swell in the presence of water•Control and manipulation of hydrogen bonding (7 types)•Control of mechanosorptive behavior •Water repelling, barriers•Control of degradation•Control/modification of surface chemistry

Nano Focus Areas

Focus Area 4 - Inorganic-organic nanocomposites nanoscale surface modification

Paper, MDF, OSB are all composite materials•Compatibilization of hydrophilic/hydrophobic materials•Interactions at nano-scale

Focus Area 5 - Photonics and Electronic/Piezo properties

•100 % Opacity

Focus Area 6 - Modifications for energy efficiency : Process related

•Nano-catalysis in pulping and chemistry•Low temp pulping•Nano pores in felts•Water removal•Low corrosion materials

Nano Focus Areas

Key StakeholdersKey Stakeholders Forest Products IndustryForest Products Industry UniversitiesUniversities Federal Departments/AgenciesFederal Departments/Agencies

NNI/NSET/PCAST/OSTP---OMBNNI/NSET/PCAST/OSTP---OMB National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation DOE Basic SciencesDOE Basic Sciences DOE National LaboratoriesDOE National Laboratories National Institute of Standards & National Institute of Standards &

TechnologyTechnology USDA CSREESUSDA CSREES USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service

2007 Nanotechnology 2007 Nanotechnology ConferenceConference

Knoxville TN, June 13 to 15 2007Knoxville TN, June 13 to 15 2007 Oak Ridge National Lab tie-inOak Ridge National Lab tie-in

Focal point for task force reviews and workshopsFocal point for task force reviews and workshops

Tappi/ FPS co-managedTappi/ FPS co-managed Co-sponsorsCo-sponsors

AF&PAAF&PA USDA Forest ServiceUSDA Forest Service USDA CSREES USDA CSREES U Tennessee U Tennessee IUFROIUFRO American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention