Preparation of Diameter-Controlled Cellulose Aerogel Spheres via Atomization Method and Their Load Performance

Cellulose aerogel spheres (CASs) are potential carriers due to their low-cost and large-scale features. In this paper, uniform CASs with precisely controlled diameters are prepared and their performance is characterized. The results show that the optimum conditions for the preparation of CASs are as follows: coagulation bath composition: V_{trichloromethane}: V_{ethyl acetate}: V_{acetic acid} = 10:10:3, cellulose solution concentration: 2%, and stirring rate: 500 r min⁻¹. The CASs prepared under optimum conditions have smooth spherical surfaces with 3D inner network structures. The diameter of the CASs gradually decreases with increasing air pump pressure and can be controlled between 30 and 1500 µm. Moreover, the loading performance of the CASs with different diameter is investigated. The results show that the load capacity of the CASs for the energetic material cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) decreases as the diameter decreases. The diameter of CASs directly determines the balance between energy density, safety performance, and energy output of energetic materials. These CASs with controllable diameters, as well as facile production method give them a series of potential applications in high energy material loading.