CNF-Reinforced ResinRecruitment as a Watercraft Component for Yamaha Motor

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (head office : Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President &President and Representative Director: Toru Nozawa, hereinafter referred to as"the Company”) manufactures and sells Cellulose nanofiber(CNF) reinforced resin"cellenpia^®PLAS" (cellenpia ^® Plus) ”was selected for the 2024 model of the watercraft"Wave Runner”and the"Sport Boat”watercraft with waterjet propulsion, which Yamaha Motor has launched in North America.Recruitment This is the world's first case of mass production of transportation equipment parts using CNF-Reinforced Resin(Note 1).

The newly mass-produced CNF-Reinforced Resinparts were developed in collaboration with Yamaha Motor (Note 2) andRecruitmentin the "engine cover", which is part of the engine parts. In the future, Yamaha Motor is considering expanding not only marine products but also a wide range of products, including motorcycles, with a view to utilizing various CNFs.

 

CNF-Reinforced Resinis ainnovative materialshigh-strength material produced by kneading and dispersing CNF, abiomassmaterial that utilizeswood resources, into polypropylene and other resins. In addition to being more than 25% lighter than conventional resin materials, the material is highly recyclable, leading to a reduction in plastic consumption and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly CO₂.

 

The Company are currently participating in a subsidy project (Note 3) of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and are studying the establishment of mass manufacturing technology and a full-fledged supply system for CNF-Reinforced Resin. In September 2021, the Fuji mill built a demonstration expansion facility centered on kneading using this grant, which can produce more than 50 tonne of CNF-Reinforced Resinper year. In addition, for the design, development and production of CNF-Reinforced Resin,the Companyhas already obtained ISO9001 certification, and we are thorough in the quality management of reinforced resin.

In the future, we will accelerate the development of applications for a wide range of industries, including mobility parts, and expand the production volume ofCNF-Reinforced Resinwith the aim of establishing manufacturing technology for stable mass production, improving quality, and further reducing costs.

<cellenpia® Plus>

cellenpia ^® Plus is a reinforced resin developed based on the innovative CNF manufacturing technology "Kyoto Process" (Note 4) developed by Professor Hiroyuki Yanoresearch laboratoryInstitute for Survival of Kyoto University and the Kyoto Cityresearch laboratoryof Industrial Science and Technology, and bythe Companyunique dispersion technology. Papermakingcellulosefibers are dispersed and defibered in thermoplastics such as polypropylene Paper(PP) and nylon 6 (PA6).

The Company produce TEMPO oxidized CNF (Note 5) at the Ishinomakimillfor general industrial applications, and Carboxymethylated CNF (CM Formatted CNF) (Note 6) at the Ezumillfor food and cosmetics applications, and sell them nationwide. In addition, by promoting the practical application of "CNF-Reinforced Resin”, we will accelerate the creation ofinnovative materialsand CNFs as"a comprehensive biomass company shaping the future with trees”, and contribute to the construction of a plastic-reducing society and global warming countermeasures.

Note 1 Research the company and Yamaha Motor

Note 2 Collaboration with Yamaha Motor on application development of CNF-Reinforced Resinhas begun https://www.nipponpapergroup.com/news/year/2022/news221116005347.html

Note 3 Participated in the NEDO grant project"Development of Cellulose nanofiber-related technologies that contribute to a carbon-recycling society / Development of innovative CNF manufacturing process technology / Development of low-cost manufacturing process technology for CNF-Reinforced Resin (PA6, PP)”with UBE Corporation https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101344.html　

Note 4 Achievement technology of NEDO consignment project"Development of technology for manufacturing process of non-edible plant-derived chemicals/Development of integrated manufacturing process from woody biomass to chemicals/Development of integrated manufacturing process and componentization technology for high-performance ligno Cellulose nanofiber”

Note 5 CNF produced by oxidizingcellulose(raw pulp) by TEMPO catalyst and then slightly defibrizing. Very thin CNF with fiber width approx. 3nm

Note 6 CNF produced by carboxymethylation (CM) of cellulose(raw material pulp) and minor defibering. CNF https://www.nipponpapergroup.com/products/cnf/ with fiber width of several nm~tens of nm