Alcogel and aerogel of nitrocellulose formed in nitrocellulose/acetone/ethanol ternary system

ABSTRACT

Nitrocellulose (NC) alcogels were formed in NC/acetone/ethanol ternary system and NC aerogels were prepared from NC alcogels after drying under supercritical CO₂ (scCO2). NC alcogel with lower modulus was formed in the ternary system with a higher ethanol ratio. The densities and porosities of NC aerogels were related directly to the initial ethanol content. The NC aerogels clearly retained the crystalline structure of NC powder. NC aerogels that were formed in the system with higher ethanol content had larger pore size distribution range, larger average pore diameter, and larger mesopore and macropore volume. The thermal decomposition of NC aerogel was more accelerated and more acute compared with NC powders.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Nitrocellulose
• phase separation
• nitrocellulose aerogel
• nitrocellulose alcogel