Cellulose-Based Oleogels via One-Step Cross-Linking for Lubrication

In this study, novel and stable cellulose-based oleogels with tunable rheological properties were successfully developed for lubrication applications via cross-linking reactions of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and isocyanate. This cross-linking strategy not only overcomes the incompatibility issue arising from the polarity difference between MCC and ESO but also enables precise control over the oleogels’ rheological behavior by tailoring the cross-linking density. The resulting oleogels exhibit excellent thermal stability, with an initial decomposition temperature (T5%) of approximately 300 °C. Furthermore, oxidation resistance is significantly enhanced with increasing cross-linking density, resulting in a substantial increase in the oxidation induction time (OIT) from 5 to 79 min at 210 °C. Rheological characterization reveals that the oleogels exhibit typical shear-thinning and thixotropic behavior. The plateau modulus (