A Carboxymethyl Cellulose and Locust Bean Gum Blend Stabilises a Microfibrillar Cellulose Network

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a blend of two polymers: carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) and locust bean gum (LBG) when added before and after homogenisation, on the functional properties of dried and re-dispersed microfibrillar cellulose (MFC) in water. This study investigates two formulations: (1) different overall blend (BL) ratios (CMC75:LBG25; CMC65:LBG35, CMC50:LBG50) when mixed with MFC (MFC85:BL15), and (2) the impact of the overall mixture ratio of a blend (CMC75:LBG25) to MFC. A multi-technique approach was used to characterise these formulations i.e., rheology, thermal and moisture absorption. The results indicated that the addition of a blend to MFC suspension increases the re-dispersibility of the dried material, independent of the range of blend ratios tested. Higher moisture sorption was observed with the MFC network in the presence of the blends which correlated well with the higher “recovery” of rheological properties upon rehydration of dried samples.