Researchers from Aalto University have been exploring the water-repellency and antimicrobial properties of cellulosic nonwovens to expand their utility across various fields, providing effective and environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic nonwovens.

Unlike synthetic fibres, cellulosic materials readily absorb water and are vulnerable to bacterial and microbial growth.

Dr. Ali Tarhini, postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University told WTiN how the hydrophilic nature of cellulosic nonwovens is due to their porous structure and the presence of excessive hydroxyl groups on the structure of cellulose, which makes it absorb and retain moisture and water. In conjunction with its moisture absorbance property, cellulose provides an organic composition that serves as a nutrient source for microorganisms that promotes microbial growth.

Tarhini said: “We were trying to add functionalities like hydrophobization, to make them water repellent, so that they can be used for a wide range of applications such as medical or even in agriculture.”

Hydrophobization is the process by which a water-repellent layer is formed on the material. It involves modifying surfaces, interfaces, or materials to reduce their ability to be wetted by water.

Biomimicry to create hydrophobic cellulosic nonwovens
To tackle this the researchers, from the Finnish university, looked toward