Creaming Layers of Nanocellulose Stabilized Water-Based Polystyrene: High-Solids Emulsions for 3D Printing

Oil-in-water emulsions stabilized using cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) form extremely stable and high-volume creaming layers which do not coalesce over extended periods of time. The stability is a result the synergistic action Pickering stabilization formation CNF percolation network in continuous phase. use methyl (MC) as co-emulsifier together with further increases viscosity system known to affect droplet size distribution formed emulsion. Here, we utilize these highly layer systems for situ polymerization styrene aim prepare an emulsion-based dope additive manufacturing. We show that approach exploiting enables effortless water removal yielding paste-like material consisting polystyrene beads decorated MC. Further, report comprehensive characterization reveals properties performance layer. Solid-state NMR measurements confirmed successful taking place inside nanocellulosic network, exclusion chromatography revealed average molecular weight (M w ) approximately 700,000 Da. Moreover, amount leftover monomer was found be less than 1% detected by gas chromatography. dry solids content paste ?20% significant increase compared original dispersion (1.7 wt%). shrinkage CNF, MC structures upon drying—an often-faced challenge—was acceptable this composite containing hygroscopic biobased materials. At best, two dimensional no more ca. 20% significantly lower pure being high 50%. paste, materials synthetic polymer, demonstrated direct-ink-writing print small objects. With optimization formulation, find emulsion templating promising route