Development of New Cellulosic Fibers and Composites Using Ionic Liquid Technology

Abstract

One of the most important applications of ionic liquids (ILs) is their use as a solvent for natural polymers. In particular, solutions of cellulose, chitosan, and chitin in ILs are used for the production of fibers, coatings, composites, and new materials. The initiation of this new field of research was triggered by the publication of Swatloski et al., which reported in 2002 for the first time the solubility of cellulose in ILs. Numerous papers have been devoted to the search for new solvents for cellulose and for scientific and industrial applications. Depending on the application of the IL, it is necessary to compromise between the ecological (toxicity) and the economic parameters (cost of the IL). This chapter discusses the scope of this approach and the limits in the practical application of ILs for the dissolution of cellulose, a natural polymer. The rational choice of ILs for use in particular processes, the features of dissolution methods for natural polymers (including cellulose, chitin, and fibroin), and the preparation of blends from the solutions of polymers with ILs are discussed.