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Morphology of cellulose objects regenerated from cellulose–N-methylmorpholine N-oxide–water solutions

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Abstract

The precipitation in aqueous media of cellulose from solutions in N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) hydrates is an important stage in the process of manufacturing of fibres, films and other cellulose objects. It is responsible for the formation of the structure of the regenerated object and their morphological characteristics significantly influence the properties of the final products. Regeneration of rather large cellulose objects was observed in situ by optical microscopy. It was found that all regenerated objects present an asymmetric structure composed of a dense skin surrounding a sub-layer characterised by the presence of finger-like voids. The porous texture of the cellulose parts between these voids is typical of the one obtained by spinodal decomposition. The morphologies of regenerated cellulose samples are described as a function of various parameters, initial cellulose solutions and composition and temperature of the aqueous regeneration bath. A mechanism of the structure formation during regeneration is proposed.

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Author notes

  1. Olga Biganska

    Present address: L’Oréal, 188-200, rue Paul Hochart, 94550, Chevilly-Larue, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mines ParisTech, CEMEF-Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux, CNRS UMR 7635, BP 207 1 rue Claude Daunesse, 06904, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

    Olga Biganska & Patrick Navard

Authors
  1. Olga Biganska
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  2. Patrick Navard
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Correspondence to Patrick Navard.

Additional information

P. Navard is a Member of the European Polysaccharide Network of Excellence (EPNOE), www.epnoe.eu.

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Biganska, O., Navard, P. Morphology of cellulose objects regenerated from cellulose–N-methylmorpholine N-oxide–water solutions. Cellulose 16, 179–188 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-008-9256-y

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