Cellulose-based, flexible polyurethane polyHIPEs with quasi-closed-cell structures and high stability for thermal...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cellulose-based porous materials show potential for thermal insulation.
• Existing materials suffer from low stability due to physical interactions, limiting practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate stable, flexible cellulose-based polyurethane polyHIPEs with quasi-closed-cell structures.
• To enhance thermal insulation properties and material stability for real-world applications.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of cellulose-stabilized Pickering high internal phase emulsions.
• Interfacial crosslinking of emulsions using isocyanate to form polyurethane polyHIPEs.
• Characterization of structural, mechanical, and thermal insulation properties.

Main Results:

• Achieved cellulose-based polyurethane polyHIPEs with controllable shapes, quasi-closed-cell structures, and high flexibility.
• Demonstrated robust compression resistance, hydrophobicity, and excellent chemical/thermal stability.
• Obtained low density and low thermal conductivity (33.1 mW/(m·K)), indicating superior thermal insulation.

Conclusions:

• The developed cellulose-based polyurethane polyHIPEs exhibit enhanced stability and flexibility.
• These materials are promising candidates for high-performance thermal insulation applications.