Nanocellulose: the next super versatile material for the military

Abstract

Military systems have become more complex, and the development of future advanced materials for defence applications has received much attention. Nanocellulose has been identified as a ‘super versatile material’ that will become a replacement material for many applications including in the military. Nanocellulose can be synthesized from discarded fibers that are left over from forestry and agricultural waste that can be transformed into high-value products. Thanks to its interesting properties, comprising low thermal expansion coefficient, high aspect ratio, high crystallinity, and good mechanical and optical properties, nanocellulose has emerged as a new material class for high end military products such as bulletproof vests, fire-retardant materials, as a component of propellants and filtration materials, and in textile, electronic and energy products. Therefore, in this review, current and future applications of nanocellulose in the military are critically discussed. This review is intended to impart to readers some of the excitement that currently surrounds nanocellulose research, and it's fascinating chemical and physical properties and applications in the military.