Aerocellulose based on all‐cellulose composites |
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| Authors: | Benoît J C Duchemin Mark P Staiger Nick Tucker Roger H Newman |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand;2. Food and Biomaterials Group, Plant and Food Research, Christchurch, New Zealand;3. Bioproduct Development, Scion, Rotorua 3046, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | Novel aerogels (or aerocellulose) based on all‐cellulose composites were prepared by partially dissolving microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in an 8 wt % LiCl/DMAc solution. During this process, large MCC crystals and fiber fragments were progressively split into thinner crystals and cellulose fibrils. The extent of the transformation was controlled by using cellulose concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 wt % in the LiCl/DMAc solution. Cellulose gels were precipitated and then processed by freeze‐drying to maintain the openness of the structure. The density of aerocellulose increased with the initial cellulose concentration and ranged from 116 up to 350 kg m?3. Aerocellulose with relatively high mechanical properties were successfully produced. The flexural strength of the materials reached 8.1 MPa and their stiffness was as high as 280 MPa. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 |
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| Keywords: | all‐cellulose composite aerogel WAXS mechanical properties microstructure |
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