Manufacturing of Short-fibre Yarn
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Mittuniversitetet - Fibre Science and Communication Centre |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 260 000 |
| Project duration | July 2015 - December 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme Bioinnovation |
| Call | BioInnovation 2015 |
Important results from the project
The purpose of the project is to test simple methods in manufacturing of paper threads. We have twinned threads from 2 mm wide paper strips in laboratory and pilot scale. The project has shown that it is possible to twin thin threads from narrow paper strips treated chemically and by drawing at low speeds. Twinning paper strips at higher speeds has also been done successfully in pilot scale but then without the addition of chemicals. The vision is that paper yarns made from plasticised paper strips could replace yarns made from fossil-based raw materials in textiles.
Expected long term effects
Twisted strips of paper which is plasticised before twisting was stronger and more extensible than those plasticised after twisting. The hypothesis project ´short fibre yarn´ has proved that it is possible to twist the paper strips to threads by stretching and treating them with chemicals which plasticise the cellulose. Moreover, it is possible to twist the paper strips into paper threads without chemical treatment at higher speeds in pilot scale.
Approach and implementation
Paper strips, plasticised with chemicals, have been twinned in the laboratory. A twinning device made by Lego parts were constructed where chemicals are added and cooled down to below freezing temperatures for plasticising the cellulose fibres. Alternatively, the paper strips were first twisted to a thread and then plasticized. After the plasticisation the paper strip or thread was washed and dried. Also, paper strips were twisted in a laboratory twister at the University of Borås and in a pilot equipment at Svenskt Konstsilke AB at higher speeds without chemical addition.