Cellulose Submicron Fibers

Abstract

In order to manufacture cellulose submicron fibers, electrospinning of cellulose was tried with different solvents. Alpha-cellulose did not dissolve in 6% (w/w) sodium hydroxide/4%urea aqueous solution. Alpha-cellulose solution in 85% phosphoric acid was not spinnable at an applied voltage between 15kV to 25 kV and at a spin length of 4 to 6 inches. Electrospinning of alpha-cellulose in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide/N-methyl-pyrrolidinone/water solvent mixture could be performed at an applied voltage of 28 kV and at a spin length of seven inches during spinning and at an ambient temperature of 38⁰C. The degree of crystallinity of the cellulose submicron fibers was found to be 37.88%. The number average fiber diameter of cellulose submicron fibers from 1.25% (w/w) cellulose solution in the N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide/N-methyl-pyrrolidinone/water solvent was found to be 207 nm and the number average fiber diameter of cellulose submicron fibers from 2.5% (w/w) cellulose solution in the N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide/N-methyl-pyrrolidinone/water solvent mixture was found to be 243 nm.