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There is a growing urgency to develop novel bio-based products and technologies as a solution to reduce our reliance on non-sustainable fossil fuels. Lignocellulosic fibers represent the most suitable alternative to address this challenge. In addition to being renewable, many inherent lignocellulosic fiber properties (eg strength, stiffness, structuring capability) surpass those of products based on petroleum-based polymers. The existing paper and board raw materials and processes, however, have been fundamentally the same for 150 years and the changes that are required by industry to respond to related needs have fallen short to revolutionize practices in bio based fibers usage.

Throughout the history of papermaking, using water as the carrier fluid has completely dominated the industry. During early 70’sa few unprejudiced engineers tried to shake this paradigm by studying the possibility of replacing water with …