TY - JOUR
T1 - Preparation and characterization of transparent cellulose films using an improved cellulose dissolution process
AU - Acharya, Sanjit
AU - Hu, Yang
AU - Moussa, Hanna
AU - Abidi, Noureddine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PY - 2017/6/5
Y1 - 2017/6/5
N2 - Effective dissolution of cellulosic macromolecules is the first predominant step to prepare functional bio-based materials with desirable properties. In this study, we developed an improved dissolution process using a freeze-drying pretreatment to promote the dissolution of cellulose. Rheological measurements of cellulose solutions and physicochemical characterization of regenerated cellulose films (scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis) were performed. Cellulose solution prepared from 5% microcrystalline cellulose (w:v) in the solvent exhibits a Newtonian fluid character while cellulose solutions at higher concentrations show a pseudo-plastic fluid behavior. Results from physicochemical characterization indicate that a freeze-drying pretreatment step of cellulose leads to a complete dissolution at 5% concentration while only part of cellulose is dissolved at 10% and 15% concentrations. The results obtained indicated that the use of a freeze-drying pretreatment step under mild conditions lead to a complete dissolution of cellulose at 5% concentration. The cellulose films prepared from 5% concentration exhibited desirable properties such as good optical transparency, crystallinity, and thermal stability.
AB - Effective dissolution of cellulosic macromolecules is the first predominant step to prepare functional bio-based materials with desirable properties. In this study, we developed an improved dissolution process using a freeze-drying pretreatment to promote the dissolution of cellulose. Rheological measurements of cellulose solutions and physicochemical characterization of regenerated cellulose films (scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis) were performed. Cellulose solution prepared from 5% microcrystalline cellulose (w:v) in the solvent exhibits a Newtonian fluid character while cellulose solutions at higher concentrations show a pseudo-plastic fluid behavior. Results from physicochemical characterization indicate that a freeze-drying pretreatment step of cellulose leads to a complete dissolution at 5% concentration while only part of cellulose is dissolved at 10% and 15% concentrations. The results obtained indicated that the use of a freeze-drying pretreatment step under mild conditions lead to a complete dissolution of cellulose at 5% concentration. The cellulose films prepared from 5% concentration exhibited desirable properties such as good optical transparency, crystallinity, and thermal stability.
KW - biomaterials
KW - biopolymers and renewable polymers
KW - cellulose and other wood products
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85012050293&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/app.44871
DO - 10.1002/app.44871
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85012050293
SN - 0021-8995
VL - 134
JO - Journal of Applied Polymer Science
JF - Journal of Applied Polymer Science
IS - 21
M1 - 44871
ER -