Bacterial Cellulose Aerogels Skeleton Strengthened by Regenerated Cellulose

Soft skeleton of bacterial cellulose aerogels (BCAs) was strengthened effectively by conformal coverage of regenerated cellulose to make sure the BCAs sustain more compression. After freeze drying, compression modulus of the strengthened sample is significantly higher than that of the BCAs, which endows the former more extensive applications. The regenerated cellulose solution was prepared by gelation of cellulose from aqueous alkali hydroxide/urea solution. Then the bacterial cellulose wet gels bulks were immersed in the regenerated cellulose solution with different contents to discuss the enhanced effect of the BCAs skeleton. The morphology of the enhanced BCAs was observed by scanning electron micrograph (SEM).The porous structure of the enhanced BCAs was investigated by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) instrument. The stress−strain curves of the enhanced BCAs were measured. The XRD pattern of the strengthened sample was also carried out. The results indicated that regenerated cellulose forms thin layers which conformally covered bacterial cellulose skeleton fibers and that had little effect on microstructure and crystal form of the bulk cellulose aerogels.