Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are promising renewable nanoparticles with unique properties including high mechanical strength and a large aspect ratio. As such, CNCs form strong gels and networked structures. We demonstrate two solid “entangled” CNC systems: (1) a chemically crosslinked aerogel of CNCs and (2) a physically crosslinked foam prepared by drying CNC-polymer aqueous foams. The chemically crosslinked CNC aerogels possess some of the lowest reported densities to-date, are strong and can absorb 70-160 times their weight in both water and non-polar solvents, without disintegrating. Furthermore, they can recover their shape by 85% after being compressed over 80%. The physically crosslinked CNC aerogels are also strong and elastic with controllable pore structure. Both systems can be post-functionalized to vary the surface chemistry and enhance functionality or used as templates for metallic structures and polymer composites.

Aerogels and foams from cellulose nanocrystals as superabsorbents, shape recovery materials, and templates

249th National Meeting (2015)

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