Nanotechnology

A leader in wood products research for over a century, the Forest Products Laboratory is fast becoming the lead Federal research facility for the application of nanotechnology in forest products. The opening of Forest Products Laboratory's Nanocellulose Pilot Plant in 2012 has garnered worldwide recognition by industry specialists and the popular press.

Using structural, chemical, and mechanical techniques, interdisciplinary teams of scientists continue to expand Forest Products Laboratory's nanocellulose research program.

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is a multi-disciplinary field of applied science and technology. The general theme is understanding and engineering matter at the atomic and molecular scales. The nanoscale ranges from 1 to 100 nanometers in at least one dimension. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or about 80,000 times thinner than a typical human hair.

This is not merely the study of small things, however. It is the research and development of materials, devices, and systems exhibiting physical, chemical, and biological properties different from those found at larger scales. Forest Products Laboratory scientists are conducting nanoscale research to learn more about the fundamental components of wood.

The ability to organize, characterize, and manipulate matter at the nanoscale has launched a revolution in science, engineering, and technology. These unique properties are what make potential nanomaterials and nanotechnology so promising to scientists and engineers. With careful attention to potential risks and promising rewards, nanotechnology has massive potential to drive global economic growth.

Nanotechnology and the Federal Government

The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) program was established in 2001 to coordinate Federal research and development (R&D) in nanotechnology. Under the guidance of the National Science and Technology Council, the NNI provides a framework for a comprehensive Federal nanotechnology R&D program by establishing shared goals, priorities, and strategies across agencies. It also provides avenues for each individual agency to leverage the resources of all participating groups.

Subsequently, the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act was created in 2003, calling for development of a strategic plan for Federal nanotechnology R&D programs. This multi-agency R&D initiative is critical for the economical and sustainable production of innovative forest-based materials. These materials will help meet societal needs while improving forest health and contributing to the expansion of biomass-based economies.

As a partner in the NNI, FPL leadership is actively determining the highest priority research areas based on FPL's mission, the needs of the Forest Service, and our capabilities and resources.

Partnering with industry, other Federal agencies, and academic resources, FPL's role in nanocellulose research will continually evolve to bring the potential of basic research into the action of practical use.

By harnessing the potential of trees, nanotechnology can provide benefits for sustainable energy production, storage, and utilization as well as new approaches for producing engineered wood- and fiber-based materials. A wide range of new or enhanced wood-based nanomaterials and products could also offer cost-effective, sustainable substitutes for non-renewable materials used in the manufacture of metallic, plastic, or ceramic products.

Potential uses for nanotechnology in the wood products industry hint at a multitude of benefits:

• "Intelligent" products with nanosensors for measuring forces, loads, moisture levels, and temperatures
• Building blocks for macro-scale products with substantially enhanced properties
• Coatings for improving surface qualities to make existing products more durable
• A basis for making lighter-weight products using less material and less energy

How does nanotechnology apply to forest products research?

The world's forests and oceans are natural regulators of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees are remarkable photochemical organisms that produce rich sources of renewable raw materials using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Trees consume carbon dioxide (and store carbon) in the production of these raw materials, which makes forests a major carbon sink.

The forest products industry, an approximately $260 billion sector in the U.S. economy, relies on the vast renewable resource of trees to manufacture products that are indispensable to modern society. American paper and wood products companies produce millions of tons of goods annually, including lumber, panel products, paper and paperboard, adhesives, sealants, and coatings. The industry accounts for 6% of U.S. manufacturing output, employs more than 900,000 people, includes more than 400 U.S. production facilities, and ranks in the top 10 in manufacturing in 46 of 50 states.

We can use nanotechnology to tap the enormous undeveloped potential of trees. The use of nanocellulose and its myriad derivative products can help propel the forest products industry into the 21st Century. From raw materials production to new applications for composite and paper products, to new generations of functional wood-based (lignocellulosic) materials at the nanoscale, possibilities abound. Lignocellulose is one of the most abundant biological raw materials, yet its potential as a nanomaterial and its interaction with other nanomaterials remain largely unexplored.