Abstract
The degree of polymerisation (DP), is an important polymer property which has a direct influence on the mechanical properties such as tensile strength. Here we measure the degree of polymerisation of regenerated cellulose dissolved in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMOAc) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AMIMCl), at different dissolution temperatures, times and coagulants. We show that dissolution temperature has a dramatic impact on the DP of the regenerated cellulose. The DP of cellulose dissolved at 130 °C was measured at 230 while the DP of cellulose dissolved at 80 °C was measured at 650. We also show that ionic liquid remains trapped in the regenerated cellulose and over a period of 2 years a significant reduction in DP was measured. This is likely due to the continued interaction between the cellulose and the trapped ionic liquid.
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RDS acknowledges the funding received from Deakin University through the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS).
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De Silva, R., Vongsanga, K., Wang, X. et al. Cellulose regeneration in ionic liquids: factors controlling the degree of polymerisation. Cellulose 22, 2845–2849 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0733-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0733-9