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Evidence-based guidelines for the ultrasonic dispersion of cellulose nanocrystals

Nanoparticles possess unique, size-driven properties. However, they can be challenging to use as they easily agglomerate - their high surface area-to-volume ratio induces strong interparticle forces, generating agglomerates that are difficult to break. This issue prevails in organic particles as wel...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Girard, Mélanie, Vidal, David, Bertrand, François, Tavares, Jason R., Heuzey, Marie-Claude
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Elsevier 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7786632/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33186861
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2020.105378
Descripción
Sumario:Nanoparticles possess unique, size-driven properties. However, they can be challenging to use as they easily agglomerate - their high surface area-to-volume ratio induces strong interparticle forces, generating agglomerates that are difficult to break. This issue prevails in organic particles as well, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs); when in their dried form, strong hydrogen bonding enhances agglomeration. Ultrasonication is widely applied to prepare CNC suspensions, but the methodology employed is non-standardized and typically under-reported, and process efficiency is unknown. This limits the ability to adapt dispersion protocols at industrial scales. Herein, numerical simulations are used in conjunction with validation experiments to define and optimize key parameters for ultrasonic dispersion of CNCs, allowing an operating window to be inferred.