Phase-equilibrium and cellulose-coagulation kinetics for cellulose solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide

Abstract

The dissolution of cellulose in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate and the dissolution of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate in water have been studied via optical interferometry. A part of the phase diagram for the cellulose/N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide system has been constructed. The phase diagram is characterized by crystalline equilibrium, hysteresis of the melting temperatures of the solvents, and a region of anisotropy. Optical interferometry has been used for the first time to study the kinetics of cellulose coagulation during the interaction of cellulose solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide with water and water solutions of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide. Information on the values of interdiffusion coefficients and the morphologies of the resulting cellulose films has been obtained. The possibility to use optical interferometry to analyze the interaction of a solution with the coagulating agent in the case of cellulose fiber and film formation has been demonstrated. The influences of temperature, the nature of the coagulating agent, and the cellulose content on the kinetics of the process and morphologies of the formed films have been shown. The use of N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide as a part of the coagulation system decreases the rate of interdiffusion of solutions, thereby resulting in a more uniform and dense morphology of cellulose films. Increased temperature causes diffusion acceleration, thereby leading to the formation of an anisotropic morphology of the cellulose films.