NACREALIA TECHNICAL WHITE PAPER
A transparent cellulose cup,
engineered as a system.
Technical basis, material architecture, ShellLock™ closure, manufacturing hypothesis, evidence gates and development risks for a next-generation cold-cup platform.
EXECUTIVE ABSTRACT
The challenge is not making cellulose clear. It is keeping the finished cup clear, strong, sealed and manufacturable.
Nacrealia separates the principal functions of a cold cup. A high-clarity, oriented regenerated-cellulose shell carries structural loads. After the finished geometry has been formed and stabilised, an ultrathin, predominantly inorganic SiOₓ mineral barrier is plasma-deposited onto the beverage-facing surface. This post-forming architecture targets liquid, moisture and aroma containment without subjecting the brittle mineral layer to forming strain. A reinforced rolled rim provides local stiffness, while the closure controls engagement strain through geometry.
The programme is governed by six no-go gates: optical clarity, 24-hour cold containment, sensory neutrality, closure and drop integrity, food-contact safety, and manufacturing relevance. The concept advances only if the complete cup-and-lid system meets the defined operating window.
CONTROLLED REVIEWER ACCESS
The evidence behind the architecture.
Appointed reviewers can enter the password-protected technical room for the engineering annex, evidence traceability, acceptance criteria and controlled programme documentation.
Access is restricted. Credentials are supplied separately to authorised reviewers.
