The effects of the thermal degradation of cellulose/MMNO dope on the physical properties of cellulose fibers

Abstract

The thermal degradation of newly developed MMNO/cellulose pre-dope was investigated to understand the degradation mechanism of molecular weight and alpha-cellulose content in the processing of cellulose fiber. The effects of thermal degradation on the physical properties of fiber were also studied. The variations of molecular weight and alpha-cellulose content of cellulose fiber decrease by the thermal degradation depend on the basis of the dope concentration and the processing temperature. These results, the mechanism of thermal degradation in MMNO/cellulose dope was explained. The thermal degradation led to the decrease in chain orientation of cellulose fiber. It was found that this caused the reduction of fibrillation and the mechanical properties of cellulose fiber significantly.