High strength ultrafine cellulose fibers generated by solution blow spinning

Publication date: Available online 15 January 2020Source: European Polymer JournalAuthor(s): Jiaping Zhang, Hideki Kitayama, Yasuo GotohAbstractA wet-type solution blow spinning system equipped with a single concentric nozzle was assembled to investigate the key factors for preparing ultrafine regenerated cellulose fibers. The effects of the degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose and the velocity of blown air on fiber morphology were studied by rheological analyses and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated that cellulose with a DP of 2365, together with a high air velocity, could aid the formation of continuous ultrafine fibers. Fluid filament deformation was observed using a high-speed camera and clearly correlated with the final fiber morphology. Additionally, aligned ultrafine fibers were spun on a rotational collector and their mechanical properties and structural parameters were characterized. Ultrafine cellulose fibers with a high strength of 941.4 MPa and a high crystallite orientation of 0.909 were obtained.Graphical abstract

Source: European Polymer Journal - January 15, 2020 Category: Chemistry Source Type: research