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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-03-12 Origin: Site
In industrial systems such as coatings, daily chemicals, pesticide suspensions, inks, and composite materials, thixotropic Rheology Modifier is an important functional additive used to regulate the rheological properties of the system. Its main functions are:
Adjust system viscosity
Prevent solid particles from settling
Improve system stability
Improve construction or usage performance
An ideal thixotropic system usually exhibits a high viscosity at rest, a decrease in viscosity when sheared, and a rapid recovery of structure after shearing is stopped . This structural recovery ability directly determines the stability and user experience of the product.
In recent years, with the increasing demand for green materials and sustainable development, nanocellulose ( Nanocellulose ) has gradually become a new high-performance thixotropic regulating material.
Nanocellulose is a nanoscale fiber material prepared from natural cellulose through mechanical, chemical or biological methods. It mainly includes:
CNF ( Cellulose Nanofiber , cellulose nanofiber)
CNC ( Cellulose Nanocrystal , cellulose nanocrystal)
Its typical structural features include:
characteristic | Parameter range | |
diameter | 5–50 nm | |
length | 500 nm – several microns | |
Specific surface area | 100–300 m²/g | |
aspect ratio | Up to 100 or more |
This high aspect ratio nanofiber structure can form a three-dimensional network structure in an aqueous system, thereby giving the material excellent thixotropic properties.
The thixotropic behavior of nanocellulose in dispersion systems mainly comes from its nanofiber network structure。
When nanocellulose is evenly dispersed in a liquid system, it will form a stable structure through the following effects:
Hydrogen bonding
There are a large number of hydroxyl groups between cellulose molecules, which can form a stable hydrogen bonding network.
The high aspect ratio of physically entangled structured
nanofibers enables them to form a spatially cross-linked network.
Electrostatic repulsion:
Modified nanocellulose with a charged surface (such as TEMPO oxidized type) can produce electrostatic stabilization.
In the static state, these effects form a stable three-dimensional network structure, causing the system to exhibit higher viscosity; under the action of shear force, the network structure is temporarily destroyed and the viscosity drops rapidly; when the shearing stops, the network recovers, resulting in obvious thixotropic behavior。
In water-based coatings and inks, nanocellulose can act as a natural thixotropic agent and has the following advantages:
Prevent pigment settling
Improve storage stability
Improve coating leveling
Reduce sagging
Due to its natural origin and low VOC properties, nanocellulose is gradually becoming an important alternative material to traditional bentonite or synthetic rheology agents.
In shampoos, shower gels, gels and suspended daily chemical products, nanocellulose can:
Provides stable levitation capability
Adjust system viscosity
Improve product quality
Enhance formula stability
The micro-nano network structure formed by it can stabilize suspended particles, beads or functional additives.
Pesticide suspension concentrate ( SC ) has high requirements for thixotropic properties, and nanocellulose can be used for:
Improve suspension rate
Prevent active ingredients from settling
Enhance long-term stability of the system
Improve spray rheology
Compared with traditional thickeners, nanocellulose has better structural recovery capabilities.
In functional composite materials, graphene dispersion systems and high solid slurry systems, nanocellulose can be used as a structural rheology modifier :
Provide three-dimensional network structure
Improve particle dispersion stability
Improve system thixotropy index
Therefore, it also has important application potential in the field of advanced materials.
With the development of green materials and bio-based materials, the application of nanocellulose in the field of thixotropic regulation is continuously expanding. The main development directions in the future include:
Surface functionalized modified nanocellulose
High concentration and stable dispersion technology
Composite thixotropic system with inorganic materials
Industrial scale production and cost optimization
As a natural, renewable, environmentally friendly, high-performance rheology-modifying material , nanocellulose is expected to replace traditional petrochemical rheology agents in more industrial systems.
For example, some companies that focus on the research and development and application of nanocellulose (such as Nanjing Tianlu Nanotechnology Co., Ltd.) are also promoting the industrial application of this material in the fields of thixotropic regulation and functional composites.
