Preparation of Bio-Based Foams with a Uniform Pore Structure by Nanocellulose/Nisin/Waterborne-Polyurethane-Stabilized Pickering Emulsion

Bio-based porous materials can reduce energy consumption and environmental impact, and they have a possible application as packaging materials. In this study, a bio-based porous foam was prepared by using a Pickering emulsion as a template. Nisin and waterborne polyurethane (WPU) were used for physical modification of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidine-1-oxyl-oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNC). The obtained composite particles were applied as stabilizers for acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) Pickering emulsion. The stability of the emulsion was characterized by determination of the rheological properties and microscopic morphology of the emulsion. The emulsion stabilized by composite particles showed better stability compared to case when TOCNC were used. The porous foam was obtained by heating a composite-particles-stabilized Pickering emulsion at 90 degrees C for 2 h. SEM (scanning electron microscopy) images showed that the prepared foam had uniformly distributed pores. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the foam was 0.33 W/m center dot k, which was a significant decrease compared to the 3.92 W/m center dot k of the TOCNC foam. The introduction of nisin and WPU can reduce the thermal conductivity of the foam, and the physically modified, TOCNC-stabilized Pickering emulsion provides an effective means to preparing bio-based porous materials.

Automated summary

In this study, a bio-based porous foam was prepared using a Pickering emulsion as a template. The stability of the emulsion was improved by physical modification of TOCNC and using composite particles as stabilizers. The resulting foam had uniformly distributed pores and significantly lower thermal conductivity compared to TOCNC foam.