STEADY SHEAR RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF CELLULOSE SOLUTIONS IN NMMO HYDRATE

摘要

Cellulose is the most abundant natural organic resource on earth. However, its use has been restricted due to poor processibility which comes from its infusibility and poor solubility. Lots of studies have focused on finding out a proper solvent able to directly dissolve cellulose and revealing the solvent system. Among them N-methyl morpholine N-oxide(NMMO) proved most versatile solvent for cellulose. The rheological properties of the solution of a rigid chain polymer is greatly affected by phase change, which is largely determined by solution composition. Cellulose is reported to produce isotropic or mesomorphic phase depending on the hydration number(n) of NMMO hydrate. To comprehend the steady shear properties is essential to determine the fabrication conditions of cellulose. In this study we attempted to investigate the steady shear rheological properties of cellulose solutions in NMMO hydrates.