Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. to Build CNF Production Facility at Ishinomaki Mill in Miyagi
June 03, 2016 at 05:09 am EDT
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Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. has announced the plan to build a large-scale cellulose nanofiber, or CNF, production facility at the Ishinomaki Mill in Miyagi. This facility will produce CNF from wood pulp that is chemically treated by the TEMPO catalytic oxidation method. A total of JPY 1.6 billion will be invested on the facility, and an annual production capacity is 500 tons. It is scheduled to begin its operation in April 2017. This project reinforces the Ishinomaki Mill's foundations as a production base of CNF, a new material, in addition to printing and information paper business, power generation business, and recycling business. TEMPO-oxidized CNF is made from wood fiber (pulp) that is finely defibrated to the nano-level and completely nano-dispersed with uniform fiber widths of 3 to 4 nm and high crystalinity. It has also exhibits unique and outstanding features that are not found in conventional materials, such as lightweight, a high modulus of elasticity, good dimensional stability against heat, and high gas barrier property. In addition, because carboxyl groups are densely arranged in regular order on the surface of CNF, it can support a large amount of metal ions or metallic nanoparticles, which allows various functions to be added. Henceforth, Nippon Paper Industries will expand the use of functional CNF with antimicrobial and deodorizing functions. Also the applications of CNF as functional additives that take advantage of CNF's characteristic viscosity and texture will be developed. In addition, Nippon Paper Industries has been developing wide range of other uses, such as functional sheets utilizing excellent thermal dimensional stability equal to that of glass fibers and high gas barrier property that does not allow oxygen to penetrate, and nano-composite materials with resin and rubber to reduce weight and provide added strength. Nippon Paper Industries aims to quickly secure markets for these promising CNF uses.
Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based company mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of paper products, as well as the energy business, and the construction materials and civil engineering business. The Company has four business segments. The Paper and Paperboard segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of western paper, paperboard, thermal paper, pulp and papermaking raw materials. The Lifestyle Related segment is engaged in the manufacture and sale of household paper, container base paper, processed paper products, cardboard and chemical products. The Energy segment is engaged in the operation of power generation facilities, as well as the provision and sale of electricity. The Lumber, Construction Materials and Civil Engineering Related segment is engaged in the purchase and sale of lumber, the manufacture, purchase and sale of construction materials, and the civil engineering business. The Company is also engaged in the logistics and leisure business.