Research progress on the water resistance of degradable cellulose-based materials

The preparation of plastic substitutes from biomass resources has become one of the most attractive research topics at present. Cellulose, a polymer widely found in biomass, has been used as a precursor of high-value materials due to its degradability, sustainability, and good mechanical properties. However, the rich hydroxyl structure in cellulose enhances its hydrophilicity, leading to the softening of cellulose-based materials after water absorption, thus their mechanical properties are seriously affected. On the premise of retaining the environment-friendly properties of cellulose, the improvement of the water resistance of cellulose-based materials is to increase their water stability and mechanical properties in high humidity environments, thereby broadening the practical application range of cellulose-based materials and making them an excellent candidate for petroleum and making them become the excellent alternatives to petroleum-based or coal-based plastics. Based on the analysis of structure and properties of cellulose, the problem of poor water resistance of cellulose-based materials was raised firstly, and then the performance indicators and industry requirements of the water resistance for cellulose-based materials were introduced. Three optimization methods (coating hydrophobic coatings, preparing composite materials, and adding additives) for the improvement of the water resistance of cellulose-based materials were emphasized. At last, the water resistance of cellulose-based materials was summarized and prospected, and the problems and challenges in their practical optimization were pointed out. © 2023 Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.