Microcrystalline Cellulose-Based Eraser

Eraser, the most widely used stationery item made of vulcanized rubbers or petroleum-based resins, is too common to draw attention. Its fragments falling off during the erasing process may appear small and insignificant; however, it should be noteworthy that they are in fact microplastics, which are hard to degrade in nature and pose significant threats to the ecological environment. In this work, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based elastomer was proposed that displays an impressive erasure effect combined with good biodegradability. This special erasure function is attributed to its unique microstructure, in which a very high loading of MCC (75 wt %) was achieved via a planetary centrifugal mixing of MCC and a polyethylene glycol-derived aqueous polyurethane (APE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC particles were uniformly coated with APE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests further clarified the specific interactions between APE and MCC. The oriented aggregation principle and Young’s equation were employed to describe the erasure behavior and elucidate the underlying mechanism. It indicated that APE played a key role in transferring pencil lead powders from paper to the eraser. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that MCC played another key role in facilitating the removal of pencil shavings from the eraser’s surface. This work provides a feasible thought for fabricating an “eco-eraser” based on commercially available MCC, which shows great potential in reducing the harm of eraser microplastics on the ecological environment and develops a brand new application of cellulose in composite materials

Microcrystalline Cellulose-Based Eraser

Eraser, the most widely used stationery item made of vulcanized rubbers or petroleum-based resins, is too common to draw attention. Its fragments falling off during the erasing process may appear small and insignificant; however, it should be noteworthy that they are in fact microplastics, which are hard to degrade in nature and pose significant threats to the ecological environment. In this work, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based elastomer was proposed that displays an impressive erasure effect combined with good biodegradability. This special erasure function is attributed to its unique microstructure, in which a very high loading of MCC (75 wt %) was achieved via a planetary centrifugal mixing of MCC and a polyethylene glycol-derived aqueous polyurethane (APE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC particles were uniformly coated with APE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests further clarified the specific interactions between APE and MCC. The oriented aggregation principle and Young’s equation were employed to describe the erasure behavior and elucidate the underlying mechanism. It indicated that APE played a key role in transferring pencil lead powders from paper to the eraser. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that MCC played another key role in facilitating the removal of pencil shavings from the eraser’s surface. This work provides a feasible thought for fabricating an “eco-eraser” based on commercially available MCC, which shows great potential in reducing the harm of eraser microplastics on the ecological environment and develops a brand new application of cellulose in composite materials

Microcrystalline Cellulose-Based Eraser

Eraser, the most widely used stationery item made of vulcanized rubbers or petroleum-based resins, is too common to draw attention. Its fragments falling off during the erasing process may appear small and insignificant; however, it should be noteworthy that they are in fact microplastics, which are hard to degrade in nature and pose significant threats to the ecological environment. In this work, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based elastomer was proposed that displays an impressive erasure effect combined with good biodegradability. This special erasure function is attributed to its unique microstructure, in which a very high loading of MCC (75 wt %) was achieved via a planetary centrifugal mixing of MCC and a polyethylene glycol-derived aqueous polyurethane (APE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC particles were uniformly coated with APE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests further clarified the specific interactions between APE and MCC. The oriented aggregation principle and Young’s equation were employed to describe the erasure behavior and elucidate the underlying mechanism. It indicated that APE played a key role in transferring pencil lead powders from paper to the eraser. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that MCC played another key role in facilitating the removal of pencil shavings from the eraser’s surface. This work provides a feasible thought for fabricating an “eco-eraser” based on commercially available MCC, which shows great potential in reducing the harm of eraser microplastics on the ecological environment and develops a brand new application of cellulose in composite materials

Microcrystalline Cellulose-Based Eraser

Eraser, the most widely used stationery item made of vulcanized rubbers or petroleum-based resins, is too common to draw attention. Its fragments falling off during the erasing process may appear small and insignificant; however, it should be noteworthy that they are in fact microplastics, which are hard to degrade in nature and pose significant threats to the ecological environment. In this work, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based elastomer was proposed that displays an impressive erasure effect combined with good biodegradability. This special erasure function is attributed to its unique microstructure, in which a very high loading of MCC (75 wt %) was achieved via a planetary centrifugal mixing of MCC and a polyethylene glycol-derived aqueous polyurethane (APE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC particles were uniformly coated with APE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests further clarified the specific interactions between APE and MCC. The oriented aggregation principle and Young’s equation were employed to describe the erasure behavior and elucidate the underlying mechanism. It indicated that APE played a key role in transferring pencil lead powders from paper to the eraser. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that MCC played another key role in facilitating the removal of pencil shavings from the eraser’s surface. This work provides a feasible thought for fabricating an “eco-eraser” based on commercially available MCC, which shows great potential in reducing the harm of eraser microplastics on the ecological environment and develops a brand new application of cellulose in composite materials

Microcrystalline Cellulose-Based Eraser

Eraser, the most widely used stationery item made of vulcanized rubbers or petroleum-based resins, is too common to draw attention. Its fragments falling off during the erasing process may appear small and insignificant; however, it should be noteworthy that they are in fact microplastics, which are hard to degrade in nature and pose significant threats to the ecological environment. In this work, a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based elastomer was proposed that displays an impressive erasure effect combined with good biodegradability. This special erasure function is attributed to its unique microstructure, in which a very high loading of MCC (75 wt %) was achieved via a planetary centrifugal mixing of MCC and a polyethylene glycol-derived aqueous polyurethane (APE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that MCC particles were uniformly coated with APE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and swelling tests further clarified the specific interactions between APE and MCC. The oriented aggregation principle and Young’s equation were employed to describe the erasure behavior and elucidate the underlying mechanism. It indicated that APE played a key role in transferring pencil lead powders from paper to the eraser. SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that MCC played another key role in facilitating the removal of pencil shavings from the eraser’s surface. This work provides a feasible thought for fabricating an “eco-eraser” based on commercially available MCC, which shows great potential in reducing the harm of eraser microplastics on the ecological environment and develops a brand new application of cellulose in composite materials

Cancellous Bone-like Polyurethane Foam: A Porous Material with Excellent Properties for Ultra-high Energy Absorption

Compared to osteoporotic bone, normal cancellous bone exhibits greater resistance to impact and energy absorption. The Gibson–Ashby model of cellular structure reveals that the enhancement is attributed to a unique combination of the thick wall and small pores in porous materials. Inspired by this design concept, here, a cancellous bone-like PU foam was developed through the planetary centrifugal mixing (PCM) method. Different from previously reported high energy absorption materials, this porous material possesses a thick-wall (average thickness of 33 μm) and micropore (average size of less than 55 μm) morphology. The enlarged SEM image revealed the presence of nanoscale dispersed conductive carbon blacks embedded within the thick walls in a primary aggregate state. Furthermore, the Raman spectrometer provided additional insights into the interaction between carbon black and the PU matrix. This unique morphology was achieved by the dual actions of centrifugal and tangential forces exerted by PCM, whereby challenges in efficient mixing and dispersion of highly viscous material were successfully overcome. The unique microstructure endows the foam with ultra-high compressive strength (yield strength of 17.0 MPa) and energy absorption capacity (12.19 MJ/m3), which are comparable to polyimide foam (3.31 MJ/m3) and many lattice composite structures (5–14.07 MJ/m3) that are well known for their high energy absorption properties. In addition to the impressive energy absorption capacity, excellent comprehensive properties, such as antistatic property (an electrical conductivity of 0.346 S/m), a low thermal conductivity (0.0274 W/m·K), and fast heating responsiveness (increase by 40 °C within 180 s), are also obtained in this foam. In contrast to the complex and costly approaches in fabricating ultra-high energy absorption materials, this simple and cost-effective method opens up an attractive way in obtaining high energy absorption material with excellent comprehensive properties by a one-step PCM procedure

Cancellous Bone-like Polyurethane Foam: A Porous Material with Excellent Properties for Ultra-high Energy Absorption

Compared to osteoporotic bone, normal cancellous bone exhibits greater resistance to impact and energy absorption. The Gibson–Ashby model of cellular structure reveals that the enhancement is attributed to a unique combination of the thick wall and small pores in porous materials. Inspired by this design concept, here, a cancellous bone-like PU foam was developed through the planetary centrifugal mixing (PCM) method. Different from previously reported high energy absorption materials, this porous material possesses a thick-wall (average thickness of 33 μm) and micropore (average size of less than 55 μm) morphology. The enlarged SEM image revealed the presence of nanoscale dispersed conductive carbon blacks embedded within the thick walls in a primary aggregate state. Furthermore, the Raman spectrometer provided additional insights into the interaction between carbon black and the PU matrix. This unique morphology was achieved by the dual actions of centrifugal and tangential forces exerted by PCM, whereby challenges in efficient mixing and dispersion of highly viscous material were successfully overcome. The unique microstructure endows the foam with ultra-high compressive strength (yield strength of 17.0 MPa) and energy absorption capacity (12.19 MJ/m3), which are comparable to polyimide foam (3.31 MJ/m3) and many lattice composite structures (5–14.07 MJ/m3) that are well known for their high energy absorption properties. In addition to the impressive energy absorption capacity, excellent comprehensive properties, such as antistatic property (an electrical conductivity of 0.346 S/m), a low thermal conductivity (0.0274 W/m·K), and fast heating responsiveness (increase by 40 °C within 180 s), are also obtained in this foam. In contrast to the complex and costly approaches in fabricating ultra-high energy absorption materials, this simple and cost-effective method opens up an attractive way in obtaining high energy absorption material with excellent comprehensive properties by a one-step PCM procedure