Traditionally, polymers and macromolecular components used in the foam industry are mostly derived from petroleum. The current transition to a bio-economy creates demand for the use of more renewable feedstocks. Cellulose fibres have excellent potential for reinforcement or formation of biobased foams with engineering properties. In this work, we present two approaches for producing biofoams. First, acrylated epoxidized soybean oil and variable amounts of cellulose fibres were used in the production of bio-based foams and characterised by several techniques, including porosity measurements, nanoindentation testing, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the introduction of cellulose fibres during the foaming process was necessary to create the three-dimensional polymer foams. The resulting foams possessed a porosity of approximately 56%, and the incorporation of cellulose fibres did not affect thermal behaviour. Scanning electron micrographs showed randomly oriented pores with irregular shapes and non-uniform pore size throughout the samples. In a second approach, we studied the flame propagation and combustion properties of a lightweight fibrous foam produced from a layered double hydroxides (LDH) modified thermomechanical pulp fibres. The <i>in situ </i>synthesis of Mg-Al LDH with pulp fibres was engineered to include both micron and nano-sized particles. The method allowed loading the fibres with LDH up to 34% (w/w). Observed pyrolytic effects included 60% reduction in CO2 production rate, and similar reductions in peak heat release rate (PHRR) and in amount of soot during the oxidative pyrolysis. The <i>in situ </i>synthesised LDH particles shielded the fibres from external heat by reducing the rate of oxidation and liberation of volatile gases. Effective charring was observed at the interphase of LDH nanoparticles and organic material.

Cellulose-reinforced and hybrid cellulose-based biofoams for structural and flame resistance applications

255th National Meeting (2018)

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