Abstract:

This study addresses in detail the role of water in the consecutive steps of film forming: cellulose dissolution, regeneration and drying, and its impact on the mechanical properties of the cellulose film. Prehydrolysis kraft (PHK) pulp was subjected to hydrothermal treatment (HT) prior to its dissolution in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate [emim]OAc. After the treatment, the DP of the pulp was 440 and the polydispersity index was as low as 3.1. HT pretreated pulp was dissolved in [emim]OAc with a water content of 2, 7, 14 and 21 wt%. The pulp dissolution was completed within 15 min regardless of the water content in the solvent. The rheological behavior, one of the key properties in film formation, was determined at varied temperature and cellulose concentration. Cellulose films were prepared from solutions with cellulose concentrations of 8, 12 and 16 wt% at a temperature of 90 °C. The impact of water on the macromolecular, morphological and mechanical properties of the transparent films prepared was thoroughly studied. With a very low polydispersity of the cellulose chain, the films prepared revealed high strength ranging from 87 to 106.5 MPa at elongation from 10 to 50% in conditioned state.