Freeze-casting of cellulose nanowhisker foams prepared from a water-dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) binary mixture at low DMSO concentrations

Abstract

Porous cellulose nanowhisker-based foams with a lamellae-like channel structure were fabricated by a novel freeze-casting technique using a water-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) binary solvent mixture. With the incorporation of a 0.5–1.5% of DMSO the pore morphology of the materials can be controlled and the foams show strongly improved mechanical properties as determined by compression tests.