Nanocellulose Xerogel as Template for Transparent, Thick, Flame-Retardant Polymer Nanocomposites.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have excellent properties, such as high strength, high specific surface areas (SSA), and low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE), making them a promising candidate for bio-based reinforcing fillers of polymers. A challenge in the field of CNF-reinforced composite research is to produce strong and transparent CNF/polymer composites that are sufficiently thick for use as load-bearing structural materials. In this study, we successfully prepared millimeter-thick, transparent CNF/polymer composites using CNF xerogels, with high porosity (~70%) and high SSA (~350 m g), as a template for monomer impregnation.

Mechanically Strong, Scalable, Mesoporous Xerogels of Nanocellulose Featuring Light Permeability, Thermal Insulation, and Flame Self-Extinction.

Scalability is a common challenge in the structuring of nanoscale particle dispersions, particularly in the drying of these dispersions for producing functional, porous structures such as aerogels. Aerogel production relies on supercritical drying, which exhibits poor scalability. A solution to this scalability limitation is the use of evaporative drying under ambient pressure.

Nanocellulose Xerogels With High Porosities and Large Specific Surface Areas.

Xerogels are defined as porous structures that are obtained by evaporative drying of wet gels. One challenge is producing xerogels with high porosity and large specific surface areas, which are structurally comparable to supercritical-dried aerogels. Herein, we report on cellulose xerogels with a truly aerogel-like porous structure.