Effects of plasticization conditions on the structures and properties of cellulose packaging films from ionic liquid [BMIM]Cl

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science Vol. 125; no. 1; pp. 704 - 709
• Main Authors: Jin, Zhengwei, Wang, Shuo, Wang, Jianqing, Zhao, MingXu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 05-07-2012; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cellulose; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Glycerols; ionic liquid; Ionic liquids; Materials science; Packaging; packaging films; Permeability; plasticization conditions; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Scanning electron microscopy; Sheets and films; Technology of polymers; Transformations; Water vapor; Imidazole derivatives; Transport properties; Film; Cellulose hydrate; Paper pulp; Property processing relationship; Thermal stability; Ionic liquid; Additive; Steam permeability; packaging films; Plasticization; Iminium compounds; Glycerol; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Dissolution; Tensile strength; Thermal properties; Structure processing relationship; Gas permeability; Plasticizer; cellulose; Morphology; plasticization conditions; Paper packaging
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.34975

By using natural softwood pulp with higher degree of polymerization (DP = 1460) as cellulose source, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) ionic liquid as solvent and glycerol as plasticizer, a novel cellulose packaging film was prepared. The effects of plasticization conditions on the structures, mechanical properties, permeability for oxygen and water vapor were measured by Wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and other techniques. The investigations suggested that the glycerol concentration and plasticizing time had great effect on the properties of the regenerated cellulose films. The crystal transformation of cellulose I to cellulose II occurred during the dissolution and regeneration process, combining with the decrease of thermal stability. The tensile strength decreased rapidly with the addition of glycerol and prolongation of plasticizing time. However, elongation at break of the regenerated cellulose films increased at first and then decreased with increasing of glycerol concentration and plasticizing time. The morphologies for the fracture surface obtained from SEM images showed transformation of typical brittle fracture to plastic deformation with increasing of glycerol concentrations. It was also found that both water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability of the regenerated cellulose films decreased slowly with increasing of glycerol concentrations and plasticizing time, but water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability presented an almost opposite trend. The films prepared by using ionic liquid technology would be used in food packaging or other fields as a kind of green packaging material. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012