Accumulate heat and absorb sound – with paper
Paper that accumulates heat and absorbs sound. These are two of the results of Live Paper, a successful research and development project at Mid Sweden University, during the last year. The project has lead to the verification of new products with several fields of application for commercial use.
During the last year, Live Paper has focused on tests and the verification of five new ideas that are connected to paper in different ways. This modus operandi of the project has been new.
- It has been an experiment to look at how we can pursue innovation within the university and commercialize the results of our research. We see great advantages with this way of working, as we and our networks offer expert knowledge and the companies involved in the projects offer knowledge about the different lines of businesses, says Mikael Gulliksson, project manager.
- An example of a result from the work of the project group is acoustic displays – a paper material with sound absorbing qualities. In this case, the project has verified a technique to be able to print pictures or prints and create an aesthetic sound absorbing product made of fibre pulp. This has lead to the foundation of a new company, Hysch, which is currently entering the market with a tapestry that can be used to absorb sound in outdoor surroundings, such as hockey arenas and bus stations.
A further development of the acoustic displays is a similar paper material that has been filled with microspheres, or a kind of ice pack in miniature. This gives the paper temperature-regulating qualities and enables it to absorb and liberate heat. (Power Paper).
- All of the three projects we have developed are ideas from our own research environment and it has been very interesting to work this multidisciplinary with design, communication, chemistry, printing technique and optics, says Mikael Gulliksson.
15 big and small companies were tied to the project, and they have contributed with financial support from the industry, which was crucial for the success of the project. The financiers of the project were the County Administrative Board of Västernorrland and the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth. Live Paper is currently hoping to be able to continue the project, so that another one of the subordinate projects can enter the market via the cooperating companies.
- We have also developed five new promising product ideas that we would like to develop towards commercialization, says Mikael Gulliksson.
