Fabrication of cellulose membrane with 'imprinted morphology' and low crystallinity from spherulitic BmimCl

摘要

In the present study, regenerated cellulose membrane with "imprinted morphology" and low crystallinity was fabricated from the crystal cellulose/BmimCl solution. Spherulites of 1-butyl-3-methilimidazolium chloride (BmimCl) and cellulose/BmimCl solution were observed using polarized optical microscopy under certain condition. The fabricated cellulose membranes presented some particular characteristics compared with the membrane prepared from traditional cellulose/BmimCl solution. All the fabricated membranes were characterized by optical microscope, Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermo-gravimetric analysis, and mechanical testing. The images showed that the resulting membranes prepared from crystal cellulose/BmimCl solution were "imprinted" with patterns which originated from the crystalline structure of BmimCl. The results of WAXD showed that the obtained cellulose membrane exhibited low diffraction peaks and crystallinity of approximately 24.57. Furthermore, the low crystallinity led to the low mechanical property (27.5 MPa), thermal stability (315.4 degrees C), and high moisture regain (9.5). (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.