Tert-Butanol as a Structuring Agent for Cellulose Nanocrystal Fluids and Foams.

ABSTRACT: Nanocelluloses are uniquely valued for their high surface area and controllable assembly. This study elucidates the assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in tert-butanol (TBA) and water mixtures. We emphasize the influence of TBA on the structure of suspensions and freeze-dried foams. Although the length-scale of CNC organization is large relative to water-TBA structures, adding more than 30 wt % TBA shifted ordered CNC packing into an isotropic network. The change was attributed to the disruption of ionic interactions and adsorption of TBA to hydrophobic CNC interfaces; manifesting as a 5-fold increase in viscosity at 50 wt % TBA content. The freeze-dried foams' morphology was transformed due to TBA-modulated crystal growth during the freezing process. This led to the intriguing capab

SUBMITTER: Llacer Navarro S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421691 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature