| Abstract Scope |
High-porosity aerogels are increasingly pivotal in applications such as filtration, insulation, energy storage, and biomedical applications, due to their lightweight, high-strength properties and tailored pore structures that enhance functionality. This study details the processing and microstructural evolution of aerogels prepared from varying CNC-PVA mixtures ratios: 10 wt% CNC, 6 wt% CNC-4 wt% PVA, 5 wt% CNC-5 wt% PVA, 4 wt% CNC-6 wt% PVA, and 10 wt% PVA. Suspensions were ice-templated at -80°C, and subsequently freeze-dried, forming aerogels with multiscale porous structures and diverse microstructural features, mirroring cuttlefish bone architecture. Rheological and microstructural analyses indicated that the ratio CNC:PVA significantly influences the suspension viscoelastic properties and determines the mechanism responsible for the formation and alignment of pore structures. Samples prepared with 4 wt% CNC to 6 wt% PVA, showed improved mechanical properties, attributed to effective stress transfer through well-organized, interconnected pore networks and enhanced crosslinking between CNC and PVA. |