There are lots of applications in ceramics of unidirectional freezing. If I use such method to make my cellulose hydrogel, it will be stronger and more transparent? I would like to use it to make a intraocular lens. Aside from refractive index, transparency and modulus, are there other important things I need to notice?
Thanks.
Dear Ray Yang , probably the first thing you must to have into account is the biocompatibility of your material. Elasticity -modulus, is also important, because IOL´s are usually implanted through a small incision with the help of a syringe, therefore the IOL is rolled up or wrapped inside and it must recover its shape inside the eye.
About the unidirectional freezing technique, it will cause segregation of water and cellulose, organizing the cellulose in the shape of hollow tubes or a structure like a honeycomb... and probably it will cause light scattering once the water is removed... so it would loss its optical clarity. Adjusting the conditions of freezing, it is possible to form ice layers and concentrate the cellulose on the top, and probably in this case the material retains its transparency.
If you are dealing with nanocellulose or cellulose microfibers, may be the packing of such structures could cause some kind of diffraction which could impact on the optical comfort.
Hope it helps.
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