Structure study of cellulose fibers wet-spun from environmentally friendly NaOH/urea aqueous solutions

Biomacromolecules. 2007 Jun;8(6):1918-26. doi: 10.1021/bm061186i. Epub 2007 May 2.

Abstract

In this study, structure changes of regenerated cellulose fibers wet-spun from a cotton linter pulp (degree of polymerization approximately 620) solution in an NaOH/urea solvent under different conditions were investigated by simultaneous synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). WAXD results indicated that the increase in flow rate during spinning produced a better crystal orientation and a higher degree of crystallinity, whereas a 2-fold increase in draw ratio only affected the crystal orientation. When coagulated in a H2SO4/Na2SO4 aqueous solution at 15 degrees C, the regenerated fibers exhibited the highest crystallinity and a crystal orientation comparable to that of commercial rayon fibers by the viscose method. SAXS patterns exhibited a pair of meridional maxima in all regenerated cellulose fibers, indicating the existence of a lamellar structure. A fibrillar superstructure was observed only at higher flow rates (>20 m/min). The conformation of cellulose molecules in NaOH/urea aqueous solution was also investigated by static and dynamic light scattering. It was found that cellulose chains formed aggregates with a radius of gyration, Rg, of about 232 nm and an apparent hydrodynamic radius, Rh, of about 172 nm. The NaOH/urea solvent system is low-cost and environmentally friendly, which may offer an alternative route to replace more hazardous existing methods for the production of regenerated cellulose fibers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biopolymers / chemistry
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Crystallization
  • Environment
  • Light
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Weight
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Scattering, Radiation
  • Sodium Hydroxide / chemistry*
  • Solubility
  • Temperature
  • Urea / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • Polymers
  • Water
  • Sodium Hydroxide
  • Urea
  • Cellulose