Abstract
In this paper three newly synthesized imidazolium ionic liquids with different structures of cations were used for hydrolysis of cellulose. It was found that type of the cation has a great influence on particle size and dispersity of produced cellulosic materials. The use of an ionic liquid with a cation with an aliphatic substituent resulted in filler characterized with wide dispersity range and some particles larger than 2 µm. Introduction of methyl group into imidazolium ring was responsible for production of particles below 350 nm. Such particles were obtained also during hydrolysis of cellulose with ionic liquid containing a benzyl substituent with that difference that in this case particles had definitely narrower dispersity range. Moreover, type of the ionic liquid used affected crystallinity degree of the produced celluloses. Produced cellulosic materials were used as fillers for chitosan matrix. A relationship between mechanical properties of polymer composites and the particle size as well as dispersity of cellulose, controlled by chemical modifications of cellulose with innovative ionic liquids was evaluated. Incorporation of filler with established dispersive properties made it possible to form composites characterized by the assumed properties, for example with high values of Young’s modulus, tensile strength or elongation at break. Understanding the dependence between the structure of ionic liquids and dispersive properties of cellulose is an important step toward the design of composite materials with optimal mechanical properties.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Nanometric cellulose is currently a subject of very intensive scientific research
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron scattering studies have shown that the dissolution of cellulose in an ionic liquid is related to the presence of hydrogen bonds between cellulose hydroxyl protons and chloride ions of ionic liquid, while the role of cations was considered negligible (Remsing et al 2006; Youngs 2011)
Samples treated with ionic liquid did not show any bands coming from imidazole ring of ionic liquids proving that produced celluloses were sufficiently washed
Summary
Nanometric cellulose is currently a subject of very intensive scientific research This is mainly due to the high availability and renewability of the cellulose. It was claimed that the chloride anion, as a small acceptor of hydrogen bonds, in combination with 1-butyl-3methylimidazolium cation is the most effective in terms of dissolution of cellulose (Remsing et al 2006). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron scattering studies have shown that the dissolution of cellulose in an ionic liquid is related to the presence of hydrogen bonds between cellulose hydroxyl protons and chloride ions of ionic liquid, while the role of cations was considered negligible (Remsing et al 2006; Youngs 2011). The second factor responsible for dissolving cellulose is its hydrogen bonding system (Lindman et al 2010) since breaking them is necessary to dissolve the polymer
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