纳米颗粒具有独特的,大小驱动的属性。然而,他们可以是具有挑战性的使用,因为他们容易团聚-他们的高表面积-体积比诱导强大的粒子间的力量,产生难以破碎的团聚体。这个问题在有机颗粒中也普遍存在,如纤维素纳米晶体(CNCs);当处于干燥形式时,强氢键增强团聚。超声处理广泛应用于制备CNC悬浮液,但是采用的方法是非标准化的,通常报告不足,和过程效率是未知的。这限制了在工业规模上适应分散协议的能力。在这里,数值模拟与验证实验结合使用,以定义和优化CNCs超声分散的关键参数,允许推断操作窗口。
Nanoparticles possess unique, size-driven properties. However, they can be challenging to use as they easily agglomerate - their high surface area-to-volume ratio induces strong interparticle forces, generating agglomerates that are difficult to break. This issue prevails in organic particles as well, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs); when in their dried form, strong hydrogen bonding enhances agglomeration. Ultrasonication is widely applied to prepare CNC suspensions, but the methodology employed is non-standardized and typically under-reported, and process efficiency is unknown. This limits the ability to adapt dispersion protocols at industrial scales. Herein, numerical simulations are used in conjunction with validation experiments to define and optimize key parameters for ultrasonic dispersion of CNCs, allowing an operating window to be inferred.