High performance bio-based gelatinized starch-furanic resin derived foam reinforced by microcrystalline cellulose

Sustainable development of bio-based foam implies increasing usage of renewable bio-resources to compensate the rapid consumption of oil-derived resources. Starch and furfuryl alcohol, both originate from crops, are thus considered attractive bio-based precursors for preparation of gelatinized starch-furanic foam. Moreover, the reinforcement of gelatinized starch-furanic foam using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), originating from forestry, resulted in a stronger chemical network structure. This imparted excellent compressive strength and less pulverization ratio, which is even superior to that of common building insulating materials, such as mineral wool board. Furthermore, the addition of MCC guaranteed a low thermal conductivity, reasonable thermal stability and acceptable limiting oxygen index (LOI), to the produced foam as revealed by the thermal conductivity measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and LOI determination, respectively. Meanwhile, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging indicated that the internal cell size and shape of the gelatinized starch-furanic/MCC foam are uniform, while the foam presented more closed cells with suitable cell wall thickness and lacking of cracks or collapse. The developed foam with sources derived from agricultural and forestry imparts the foam excellent thermal insulation and high mechanical strength, which offers a promising potential as biomass foam materials.