Ionic Liquid-based Solvents for Natural Fiber Welding

Abstract

Certain ionic liquids (ILs) are known to be efficient solvents for biopolymers. That said, solvent efficacy is strongly impacted by the presence of both adventitious as well as other molecular components that may be added deliberately. For example, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate often contains water and acetic acid (polar protic) impurities (by-products of IL synthesis) that can have significant effects upon the dissolution of biopolymers. Additionally, ILs can be mixed with solvents such as acetonitrile (polar aprotic) that also impact the dissolution process. Data are presented that explore the effect of IL-based solvent composition on fiber welding: the controlled, partial dissolution of fibrous materials to create composite materials. Results suggest that IL-based solvents can be modified for specific outcomes. Additionally, the fiber welding processes and material analysis techniques utilized are themselves useful to quantify solvent efficacy.