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What is Valida?
Valida is produced from cellulose, the most abundant organic material on Earth. Valida comprises highly fibrillated cellulose obtained by processing woodfibre down to the smallest fibre component. Dispersed in water, Valida forms a highly interconnected 3D network based on hydrogen bonding and mechanical entanglements. Learn more avout Valida with Sappi.
What are Valida’s functional attributes?
Valida’s extensive 3D fibre network provides outstanding stabilising functionality. Particles like pigments or oil droplets can be suspended and stabilised in this network. This improves the dispersion of particles and stabilises oil-in-water emulsions.
As Valida is thixotropic (it becomes fluid when shaken or stirred), when a shear is applied, this network deforms. This enables the pumping and spraying of thick gels. As soon as the shear is removed, the network is rebuilt, and the viscosity is quickly recovered.
What applications can Valida be used for?
Valida’s versatile functionalities are suitable for a wide range of industrial applications and everyday products. These include biodegradable packaging, paints, coatings, adhesives, cosmetics and construction materials.
Valida reinforces materials such as films, paper board, moulded fibre products, and construction materials. When used as a rheology additive in liquid applications, Valida synergises with thickeners and boosts viscosity and stability.
A sustainable solution, combined with good hydrating properties, Valida is an excellent replacement for synthetic ingredients in personal care and homecare products.
Are there any application examples?
Valida is being commercially used in concrete, paints, adhesives, personal care products and many other applications. For more information about applications, please contact Valida@sappi.com.
Is Valida a thickener?
Valida works effectively as a co-thickener at a low dosage. When using Valida alone at a high dosage, Valida thickens challenging systems such as extreme pH systems, as well as systems with a high salt concentration.
FAQs: Nanocellulose (Valida) (1.35 MB)- Valida is produced from cellulose, the most abundant organic material on Earth.
- Applications for Valida include biodegradable packaging, paints, coatings, adhesives, cosmetics and construction materials.
- Dispersed in water, Valida forms a highly interconnected 3D network based on hydrogen bonding and mechanical entanglements.
- The raw material for Valida is woodfibre, sourced from certified, sustainably managed forests and plantations.
- Valid is a natural, sustainable alternative to microplastics and is certified by TUV Austria for soil and marine biodegradability.
- Studies have found Valida to be non-toxic, readily biodegradable, non-irritating and non-penetrating into the skin.
Valida’s naturality, biodegradability, recyclability, sustainability
Valida is a natural ingredient. The raw material is sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations with high levels of certification (Forest Stewardship Council™ [FSC™ N003159] and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ [PEFC/01-44-43]). Valida is certified by TUV Austria for soil and marine biodegradability. Being a 100% natural, sustainable alternative to microplastics, Valida is an excellent additive for use in biodegradable packaging, sustainable personal care and homecare, as well as many other everyday products.
Is Valida commercially available?
Currently supplied in wet form with 3% or 8% solid content, Valida is commercially available to global markets.
How should Valida be incorporated?
Good dispersion is critical to utilise the maximum benefits of Valida. The dispersion methods depend on the different applications. Examples of dispersion practices are as follows:
- Activation: Valida needs to be activated to unlock the full potential of the network. For 3% Valida, > 1000 rpm for 15 minutes will suffice. For 8% Valida, a shear of 10k rpm for 5 min is required.
- Pre-dispersion before adding surfactants: We recommend pre-dispersing Valida before adding surfactants to avoid foam stabilisation. Foam stabilisation will cause instability of formulations.
- Dosage: Add enough Valida to avoid phase separation. We suggest starting with 0,4% active content during validation in water and further optimising the dosage in a full formulation. When Valida is used as a standalone thickener, start with 1% active content.
What is the compatibility of Valida with common systems?
- Oil-in-water system: Valida can stabilise oil-in-water emulsions with up to 10% oil content, in some cases even without using a surfactant.
- Water-in-oil system: Valida is hydrophilic, and it may cause phase separation in water-in-oil systems.
- Polar solvent system: Valida is stable in polar solvents which can form hydrogen bonds with the network.
- Surfactants: Valida is generally compatible with all surfactants. However, Valida is slightly negatively charged, which means that using Valida with large amounts of cationic surfactants can cause instability. Remember to pre-disperse Valida before adding surfactants.
- Electrolytes: Valida is resistant to high salt concentrations.
- pH: Valida is resistant to pH 1-13. The personal care grades are stable in pH 4-10.
- Synergistic effect with thickeners: Valida can boost the thickening power of thickeners such as Xanthan Gum, CMC, and HEC. Using a combination of Valida and a thickener, at a lower dosage, often results in a good viscosity with added benefits from Valida (hydrating skin feel, excellent flow properties, unique texture, and supreme stability).
Are there study reports regarding safety?
Yes. Valida has been found to be non-toxic, readily biodegradable, non-irritating and has no penetration into the skin. Safety statements/reports/certifications are available on request. COSMOS-approved Valida is also available.
Why Sappi?
Sappi is a global renewable resource company that uses every part of the tree to make every day more sustainable. As a leading supplier, Sappi offers our global customers high-quality Valida fibrillated cellulose products at a commercial scale. Together with our stakeholders, we’re building a thriving world with a bio-based, circular economy.
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