Nanocellulose

What is Nanocellulose?

Nanocellulose is a nanoscale material isolated from natural cellulose sources such as wood pulp, typically with fibril diameters between 3 and 100 nm and lengths ranging from a few hundred nanometers to several micrometers. It is produced by mechanical defibrillation under high shear, using high-pressure homogenizers, ultrasonic homogenizers, grinders, or microfluidizers, often combined with TEMPO oxidation or acid hydrolysis to control surface chemistry and crystallinity. The result is a renewable material with an elastic modulus in the range of 100 to 150 GPa along the fibril axis. Our overview of nanocellulose descriptions, usage, and applications covers how these structural parameters translate into performance.

Types of Nanocellulose

• Cellulose nanofibers (CNF), typically 4 to 20 nm in diameter and several micrometers long, forming entangled networks with strong shear-thinning behavior in suspension
• Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), rod-shaped particles roughly 5 to 20 nm wide and 100 to 500 nm long, with crystallinity typically above 80 percent
• Cellulose suspensions, supplied at defined solids content for direct use in coating, casting, and formulation without additional defibrillation

Properties of Nanocellulose

• Elastic modulus of approximately 100 to 150 GPa along the fibril axis
• Density near 1.5 g/cm³, well below most reinforcing fillers
• Specific surface area typically in the range of 50 to 300 m²/g depending on type and drying route
• Abundant surface hydroxyl groups, allowing esterification, silylation, and TEMPO oxidation
• Low oxygen permeability in dry films, useful for barrier layers
• Coefficient of thermal expansion below 10 ppm/K in aligned films, with high optical transparency
• Derived from renewable feedstock and biodegradable under standard conditions

Applications of Nanocellulose

Nanocellulose functions as an organic reinforcing filler where high stiffness at low loading is required. In polymer composites, loadings of a few weight percent can produce measurable gains in tensile modulus, and work on cellulose nanocrystals in carbon fiber composites shows how interfacial reinforcement improves load transfer. Its low oxygen permeability and film-forming behavior make it suitable for barrier layers and food packaging nanocomposites. In healthcare, its biocompatibility and tunable surface chemistry support medical applications of cellulose nanocrystals including wound dressings, hydrogels, and drug carriers. As a bio-based feedstock, it is also studied as an alternative to petroleum-derived plastics.

Research and Documentation

Materials supplied by Nanografi are used in peer-reviewed research across composites, packaging, energy, and biomedical fields. You can review the publications citing Nanografi materials to see how researchers have characterized and applied them in published work. Every product ships with technical documentation covering the parameters relevant to your process, including dimensions, solids content, and surface chemistry.

Nanocellulose Price and Market

Demand for nanocellulose continues to expand across packaging, composites, and biomedical sectors, a trend detailed in our analysis of the global cellulose nanofibers market. Pricing depends on the type (CNF or CNC), solids content, surface modification, and order volume, with research quantities available alongside larger process volumes. Nanografi supplies nanocellulose with documented fibril dimensions, crystallinity, and solids content, so you can match the grade to your formulation. Check the product listings above for current specifications and pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy nanocellulose?

You can buy nanocellulose directly from Nanografi. We supply cellulose nanofibers, cellulose nanocrystals, and cellulose suspensions with defined dimensions and solids content, for both research and process-scale use, with worldwide shipping.

How much does nanocellulose cost?

Nanocellulose pricing depends on type, solids content, surface modification, and order volume. See the product listings above for current specifications and pricing.

What is the difference between CNF and CNC?

Cellulose nanofibers are long and flexible, typically 4 to 20 nm wide and several micrometers long, forming entangled networks that improve toughness and film integrity. Cellulose nanocrystals are shorter rigid rods, roughly 100 to 500 nm long with crystallinity above 80 percent, delivering higher stiffness and better dispersion in low-viscosity systems.

How is nanocellulose produced?

Cellulose nanofibers are produced by mechanical defibrillation under high shear, often with TEMPO oxidation as a pretreatment. Cellulose nanocrystals are produced by acid hydrolysis, which removes amorphous regions and leaves highly crystalline rods.

Buy Nanocellulose at Nanografi

Nanografi supplies nanocellulose with documented fibril dimensions, crystallinity, and solids content, so you can specify the grade your formulation requires rather than working from generic descriptions. Nanocellulose sits within our broader nanoparticles catalog and our full range of advanced materials, with technical documentation on every product and worldwide shipping. Browse the listings above to find the right grade for your process.