Journal article 1231 views 366 downloads
Characterization of pulp derived nanocellulose hydrogels using AVAP® technology
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Aled Lewis,
Thierry Maffeis ,
Cecile Charbonneau,
Andrea Gazze,
Lewis Francis ,
Mikhail Iakovlev,
Kim Nelson,
Stephen J. Eichhorn,
Iain S. Whitaker
Carbohydrate Polymers, Volume: 198, Pages: 270 - 280
Swansea University Authors:
Karl Hawkins , Thierry Maffeis , Cecile Charbonneau, Lewis Francis
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.06.091
Abstract
Bioinspiration from hierarchical structures found in natural environments has heralded a new age of advanced functional materials. Nanocellulose has received significant attention due to the demand for high-performance materials with tailored mechanical, physical and biological properties. In this s...
| Published in: | Carbohydrate Polymers |
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| ISSN: | 0144-8617 |
| Published: |
2018
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa40840 |
| Abstract: |
Bioinspiration from hierarchical structures found in natural environments has heralded a new age of advanced functional materials. Nanocellulose has received significant attention due to the demand for high-performance materials with tailored mechanical, physical and biological properties. In this study, nanocellulose fibrils, nanocrystals and a novel mixture of fibrils and nanocrystals (blend) were prepared from softwood biomass using the AVAP® biorefinery technology. These materials were characterized using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. This analysis revealed a nano- and microarchitecture with extensive porosity. Notable differences included the nanocrystals exhibiting a compact packing of nanorods with reduced porosity. The NC blend exhibited porous fibrillar networks with interconnecting compact nanorods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirmed a pure cellulose I structure. Thermal studies highlighted the excellent stability of all three NC materials with the nanocrystals having the highest decomposition temperature. Surface charge analysis revealed stable colloid suspensions. Rheological studies highlighted a dominance of elasticity in all variants, with the NC blend being more rigid than the NC fibrils and nanocrystals, indicating a double network hydrogel structure. Given these properties, it is thought that these materials show great potential in (bio)nanomaterial applications where careful control of microarchitecture, surface topography and porosity are required. |
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| Keywords: |
Nanocellulose; Nanofibrils; Nanocrystals; Blends; Characterization |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Start Page: |
270 |
| End Page: |
280 |