Lyocell fibres based on direct dissolution of cellulose in N-methylmorpholine N-oxide: Development and prospects

Abstract

The scientific principles of direct dissolution of cellulose in the NMMOwater system demonstrate the major possibility of obtaining concentrated spinning solutions and spinning hydrated cellulose fibres from them. The specific features of the properties of NMMO (high boiling point and insufficient thermal stability) that dissolves the NMMOwater system (narrow concentration range, optimum for dissolution of cellulose) makes it necessary to recycle the washing water by evaporating it, which causes high power consumption for this process. It is expedient to examine the possibilities of membrane technologies, including electrodialysis, for solving problems of recycling the solvent and cutting power consumption. However, this path only allows partially concentrating used washing water, since there is the danger of crystallization of NMMO di-and monohydrate. Spinning through an air gap from highly viscous solutions with long relaxation times at high spinneret draw ratios results in highly oriented fibres with high tensile rigidity (high deformation modulus). Fabrication of fibres whose properties correspond to ordinary viscose fibres will perhaps require going away from highly viscous solutions to a lower concentration and spinning by the ordinary wet method, but the volume of solvent used increases significantly, recycling it is more difficult, and power consumption increases. For the same reason of high orientation, the fibres exhibit important fibrillation when wet, and a peach skin effect is formed in the finished textiles. To reduce fibrillation, special treatments of the fabrics must be used, biofinishing, for example. During use of the articles, fibrillation can reappear, in laundering, for example. The technology for fabricating fibres of the Lyocell type requires solving many problems. Developing research on selecting alternative solvents and dissolving systems for direct dissolution of cellulose to obtain concentrated spinning solutions is simultaneously useful.An important part of the scientific and engineering legacy of A. I. Meos is dedicated to cellulose and cellulose fibres. In his lectures to students on man-made fibre technology, he spoke of the dream of researchers of finding a direct solvent of cellulose practically suitable for creating technology for fabrication of hydrated cellulose fibres. This dream came true, but only after he was no longer with us.Direct dissolution of cellulose to obtain concentrated solutions and spin fibres and films from them has been the object of research to develop the corresponding technologies for many years. The extremely tempting conversion to technologies with direct dissolution of cellulose could allow reducing consumption of chemicals by ten times in comparison to consumption in viscose and cuprammonium processes, facilitating recycling, and decreasing and improving the cleanness of harmful industrial discharges. Attempts to reach these goals have been examined in many publications [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10].Many substances have been tested as solvents of ce...

Swelling and dissolution mechanisms of regenerated Lyocell cellulose fibers

“…Commercially, Lyocell fibers are regenerated cellulose fibers spun from a cellulose solution in a mixture of N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) and water. This process is used to manufacture fibers for the textile industry (Perepelkin 2007). The Lyocell process has some drawbacks linked to the instability of the solution in presence of certain metals and of the tendency of the fibers to fibrillate in wet state.…”

Enhancement of ethanol and biogas production from high‐crystalline cellulose by different modes of NMO pretreatment

“…In addition to the possibility of nearly complete recycling of the solvent in the NMO-based processes, NMO is non-toxic and fully biodegradable (Rosenau et al, 2003). Furthermore, the process works under moderate conditions which are ambient pressure and a temperature between 90 and 1208C (Perepelkin, 2007).…”

Dry jet‐wet spinning of bagasse/N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide hydrate solution and physical properties of lyocell fibres

“…These results are comparable with the results of the commercial lyocell fiber used in our study (tensile strength 486 MPa and initial modulus 16 GPa), and the results reported in related literature (tensile strength 525 $ 600 MPa, and initial modulus 8 $ 18 GPa). 35,36 CONCLUSIONS Sugarcane bagasse was dissolved in NMMO 0.9 hydrate, and fibers were prepared by dry jet-wet spinning in aqueous NMMO solutions. We evaluated different NMMO concentrations from 0 to 50% in aqueous coagulating baths.…”