Nanocellulose: Extra Strong, Thin, Transparent, Conductive & Cheap Natural Material

A truly wonderful material called nanocellulose is made of purified wood pulp, homogenized and formed into neat nanoscale paste, crystals or fibers. Used as a laminate or as a raw materials nanocellulose acquires the following qualities after it has dried: stiffness, lightweight, tensile strength, transparency and inexpensiveness. In crystalline form, it’s gas impermeable, being highly absorbent when used as a basis for aerogels and foams. The US Forest Service opened the first in the USA (third in the world after Canada and Sweden) nanocellulose plant in Madison, Wisconsin. The following list of companies present at the opening gives understanding on which industries could be affected by the material. IBM, Ecolab, Lockheed Martin, companies from paper\pulp industries, universities were there, with the Department of Defense, automotive and medical device industries demonstrating interest as well. As nanocellulose is safe both at production level and in final products, and could even be used as a low-calorie food thickener, its usage is expected to grow rapidly.
Via: extremetech.com