A film including a surface layer is described. In particular, the surface layer includes a low gloss layer including a binder containing a resin and resin beads having an average particle size of 4 μm to 20 μm, and a printed pattern partially covering the low gloss layer, a region of the low gloss layer not covered with the printed pattern exhibits a matte appearance with 1.5 GU or less at 60 degrees of a surface glossiness, a surface glossiness of a region of the printed pattern is higher than the surface glossiness of the region not covered with the printed pattern, and the film has a visible texture.

The present invention provides a process for separating cellulose from a feedstock, comprising the steps of: a) wetting the cellulose with a first solvent system to form wet cellulose; b) contacting the wet cellulose with a second solvent system to form a mixture; c) maintaining the mixture at a first temperature for a first period of time; d) maintaining the mixture at a second temperature for a second period of time to dissolve the cellulose; and e) removing the first and second solvent system containing the dissolved cellulose.

It has been found that certain silica/cellulose hybrid compositions can be incorporated into rubber formulations with excellent compatibility between the filler and the rubber being attained. These rubber formulations also offer excellent rubber performance characteristics for utilization in tires and other rubber products. These silica/cellulose compositions are made by (1) dispersing sodium silicate or an alkoxy silane into an aqueous cellulose slurry to make an aqueous cellulose dispersion; (2) maintaining the aqueous cellulose dispersion under agitation for a time which is sufficient to allow the sodium silicate or the alkoxy silane to react with the cellulose; (3) adding an acid to the cellulose dispersion in an amount which is sufficient to reduce the pH of the cellulose dispersion to no more than about 8 to produce the silica/cellulose hybrid; and (4) recovering the silica/cellulose hybrid from the water.

Polyester-free cotton is obtained from a fabric and/or fibers containing polyester and cotton by reacting the fabric and/or fibers with an amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same and an alcohol solvent. The reaction, which may be run in batches or as a continuous flow process, recovers (i) polyester-free cotton as a solid inert by-product of the reaction, (ii) the amine organocatalyst and/or carboxylic acid salt of same for reuse, (iii) a polyester monomer product, and (iv) unreacted alcohol. The reaction works on any polyester-cotton fabric and/or fibers, including those that have at least one additional material, such as polyethers polyolefins, polyurethanes, nylon, rayon, acetate, viscose, modal, acrylic, wool, and combinations thereof.

It is an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet containing ultrafine cellulose fibers, which is excellent in transparency and water resistance. The present invention relates to a sheet including cellulose fibers having a fiber width of 1000 nm or less, and polyamine polyamide epihalohydrin, wherein the haze of the sheet is 6% or less.

The invention relates to systems and techniques for manufacturing articles containing cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder resin, and related processes of making and using the cellulosic articles. In particularly exemplary embodiments, the manufactured articles are door skins, sometimes known as door facings, and doors made from the door skins. The article contains a lipophilic cellulosic material, a coupling agent, and a binder. The coupling agent is believed to increase the hydrophilicity (wetability) of the lipophilic cellulosic material.

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.

A polymer gel may comprise a polymer gel base material and superparamagnetic nanoparticles. At least 25 wt. % of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles may have diameters in a first size range between a first diameter and a second diameter. At least 25 wt. % of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles may have diameters in a second size range between a third diameter and a fourth diameter. The Brownian relaxation time of the portion of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the first size range may be at least 5 times the Neel relaxation time of the portion of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the first size range. The Neel relaxation time of the portion of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the second size range may be at least 5 times the Brownian relaxation time of the portion of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles in the second size range. Methods for monitoring gel integrity in a wellbore are further included.

The present invention relates to a method for dewatering a web comprising microfibrillated cellulose, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a suspension comprising between 50 wt-% to 100 wt-% of microfibrillated cellulose based on total dry weight, forming a fibrous web of said suspension on a support wherein said web has a dry content of 1-25% by weight, applying a dewatering felt into direct contact with the fibrous web, conducting said fibrous web, arranged between said dewatering felt and said support, through at least one shoe press equipment, drying the dewatered web to form a film which film has an Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) value (23° C., 50% RH) below 100 cc/m.sup.2/24 h according to ASTM D-3985.

Environmentally friendly, sustainable, and high-performance ultralight composite foams are disclosed. The composite foams are prepared from cellulose nanomaterial, polymeric material, and a crosslinking agent. The fabrication process is simple and uses only water. The composite foams exhibit an elastic strain exceeding the values reported for known nanocellulose-based foams with no reinforcement. The foams exhibit a thermal conductivity superior to that of traditional insulating materials and retain structural integrity after burning.