Nanometer thin films consisting of cationic chitosan (Ch), anionic poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA), and anionic montmorillonite clay (MMT) are deposited on highly porous, wet-stabilized cellulose nanofibril (CNF) aerogels via the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. Model experiments with silicon oxide surfaces are used to study the details of LbL formation and the multilayer structure. Formation of layers on the aerogels is also investigated as a function of solution concentration by use of polyelectrolyte titration. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the LbL coating significantly improves thermal stability of the CNF aerogel. Horizontal flame test shows that aerogels coated with five quadlayers of Ch/PVPA/Ch/MMT, using solutions/dispersion of high concentration, are able to self-extinguish immediately after removal of flame, and LbL-coated aerogels do not ignite under heat flux (35 kW/m2) in cone calorimetry. The LbL-coated aerogel can prevent flame penetration from a torch focused on the surface, achieving temperature drops up to 650 °C across the 10 mm thick specimen for several minutes. LbL treatment is hence a rapid and highly effective way to specifically tailor the surface properties of CNF aerogels in order to confer unprecedented flame-retardant characteristics.
Keywords: aerogel; cellulose nanofibril; flame-retardant; layer-by-layer assembly; thermal stability.