Precision Mixing for Surfactant-Modified Cellulose Films
In the evolving landscape of sustainable materials and specialty chemistry, surfactants play a vital role in unlocking new performance capabilities across industries, from detergents and personal care to biodegradable packaging. One impactful development in sustainable food packaging is the integration of surfactant-modified microfibrillated cellulose (S-MFC) into high-barrier films. This innovation directly addresses the global challenge of single-use plastics by offering a renewable alternative.
Achieving the full potential of S-MFC requires not only the right surfactant chemistry but also precise, controlled mixing. For R&D scientists and formulation chemists, Caframo BDC1850 Ultra Torque overhead stirrers have become indispensable for achieving reproducible, durable S-MFC suspensions.
Surfactants: Enabling Functional Surface Chemistry
Surfactants, or surface-active agents, are amphiphilic organic compounds that reduce surface tension between liquids, a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid. Their amphiphilic structure (hydrophilic at one end, hydrophobic at the other) enables dispersion, emulsification, and surface modification of materials. Surfactants are commonly classified by head-group polarity/charge.
In S-MFC formulations, cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and nonionic alcohol ethoxylates are frequently effective. CTAB can introduce hydrophobic alkyl chains and electrostatic interactions that enhance water resistance and antibacterial behavior, while alcohol ethoxylates contribute lubricity and film flexibility through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces.
S-MFC Films: A Sustainable Packaging Advancement
Recent research has shown that surfactant-modified MFC films can deliver meaningful improvements in barrier performance. Films treated with CTAB and alcohol ethoxylates have demonstrated reduced water vapor transmission rates, zero air permeability, and high resistance to oil and grease. Mechanical strength and stretchability may also improve, helping make these films viable for food packaging and other demanding applications.
Why Caframo BDC1850 Ultra Torque Is Essential
The preparation of S-MFC is a multi-step process that begins with hardwood kraft pulp and involves mechanical fibrillation to produce microfibrillated cellulose. A critical step is the mixing of MFC suspensions with surfactants, typically performed at 500–600 rpm for extended periods at room temperature to achieve uniform adsorption and dispersion.
Caframo’s BDC1850 Ultra Torque stirrer is engineered for demanding lab and pilot-scale applications and provides the control needed to build reproducible S-MFC suspensions while minimizing over-shear, vortexing, and air entrainment.
Key Features
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The BDC1850’s torque capacity helps maintain uniform, homogeneous mixing as viscosity rises, reducing overload risk and downtime. Real-time RPM and torque visibility supports precise shear targeting for chemistries such as CTAB and alcohol ethoxylates. With an adjustable chuck and compatibility with radial-flow impellers, the system promotes efficient macro-mixing while limiting surface drawdown.
From Lab to Pilot
Keep geometric ratios and power per volume consistent when scaling. Confirm that the selected impeller maintains adequate turnover at target solids and that surface management prevents air entrainment. Re-validate barrier performance under pilot heat load and residence time, and document torque/RPM profiles alongside film performance metrics.
Need guidance selecting an impeller and shear profile for your cellulose system? Our team can help you optimize torque, RPM, and process sequence for consistent S-MFC outcomes.
References
- Arafat, K. M. Y., Salem, K. S., Bera, S., Jameel, H., Lucia, L., and Pal, L. “Surfactant-Modified Microfibrillated Cellulose Reinforcement of High-Barrier Sustainable Packaging Films.” Carbohydrate Polymers 357 (2025): 123471.
- Tardy, B. L., Yokota, S., Ago, M., Xiang, W., Kondo, T., Bordes, R., and Rojas, O. J. “Nanocellulose–Surfactant Interactions.” Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 29 (2017): 57–67.
- Syverud, K., Xhanari, K., Chinga-Carrasco, G., Yu, Y., and Stenius, P. “Films Made of Cellulose Nanofibrils: Surface Modification by Adsorption of a Cationic Surfactant and Characterization by Computer-Assisted Electron Microscopy.” Journal of Nanoparticle Research 13, no. 2 (2011): 773–782.
- Thomas, B., Raj, M. C., Athira, B. K., Rubiyah, H. M., Joy, J., Moores, A., and Sanchez, C. “Nanocellulose, a Versatile Green Platform: From Biosources to Materials and Their Applications.” Chemical Reviews 118, no. 24 (2018): 11575–11625.
- Essential Chemical Industry. “Surfactants.” 2013. https://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/materials-and-applications/surfactants.html.
