Cellulose composite fibers prepared from ionic liquid-based solution

CELL 285

Ning Sun, nsun@bama.ua.edu1, Richard P. Swatloski, RPSwatloski@525Solutions.com1, Mirela L. Maxim1, Mustafizur Rahman, Rahma007@bama.ua.edu1, Adam G. Harland2, Anwarul Haque, ahaque@coe.ua.edu2, Scott K. Spear, sspear@bama.ua.edu3, Dan T. Daly, dandaly@ua.edu3, and Robin D. Rogers, rdrogers@bama.ua.edu4. (1) Department of Chemistry and Center for Green Manufacturing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (2) Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (3) Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (4) Department of Chemistry and Center for Green Manufacturing / School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, The University of Alabama,Tuscaloosa / The Queen's University of Belfast, Stranmillis Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
Cellulose composite fibers have been prepared by a dry-jet wet spinning process from the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. After dissolution of the cellulose in the IL, an active ingredient (e.g., TiO2 or Fe3O4) was dispersed homogeneously in the solution, and the composite fibers were extruded into a water coagulation bath. The properties of composite fibers prepared with different concentrations of dispersed ingredients and different concentrations and degrees of polymerization of cellulose under the same extrusion conditions were analyzed. It was found that an increase in degree of polymerization and/or cellulose concentration resulted in stronger fibers, and conversely the addition of active substances weakened overall mechanical properties, in most cases. This presentation will overview current progress in fiber spinning, our overall biomass program in general, and suggest where ILs may provide unique routes to new materials and processes which utilize renewable resources.