CNF is a general term for a bundle of cellulose microfibril that is a basic structure substance of plant cell wall. This nanofiber is one-fifth the weight of steel and five times or more its strength while it has one-fiftieth of linear thermal expansion coefficient of glass.

It is a plant-derived, environment-friendly and sustainable resource, which accounts for 50% or more of plant resources, such as wood, and can be found abundantly on earth. Toward early realization of a low-carbon society, it is attracting attention for its utilization as a substitute for petroleum-based plastics, a reinforcing fiber for structural materials and a modifier.

Dr. Isogai has developed "TEMPO-mediated oxidation" as a chemical approach in CNF production and significantly improved the efficiency of CNF production that conventionally required energy-intensive mechanical disintegration. This development paved the way for intensive research for CNF production and its application to industry.

Likewise, Dr. Yano has developed the "Pulp Direct-Kneading Method (Kyoto Process)" that realizes nanoscale fibrillation of pulp fiber and uniform dispersion into resin in the production of composite materials reinforced by CNF. Conventionally, CNF had to be first produced and mixed with composite materials, such as resin, in order to produce resin composites.

However, the Kyoto Process has removed such procedures and enabled a simple process, which resulted in substantial reduction in time and cost. In addition, he has made tremendous contributions in expanding a range of CNF application by playing a leading role in industry-government-academia activities.

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