Aerogels with a network skeleton of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) combine high optical transparencies, low thermal conductivities, and high toughness values. However, the CNF aerogels are not still in practical use; this is because their production process inevitably includes super-critical drying (SCD) of wet CNF gels. SCD requires a specific heating container with pressure resistance, and thus limits the size of resulting dry solids. In the present study, we closely examined the conditions of ambient pressure drying for the formation of CNF xerogels with high porosities and high specific surface areas. The conditions include not only drying temperature but also the CNF concentration, type of interactions between CNFs in the wet gels, and solvent of wet gels, all of which are important factors governing the shrinkage of wet gels on drying.

Preparation of porous nanocellulose structures via ambient pressure drying and their characterization

2019 Spring National Meeting

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