Optical Properties and Photopolymerization of Liquid Crystalline (Acetyl) (Ethyl) Cellulose/Acrylic Acid System

The structure and properties of a chiral nematic phase, which reflects one hand of circularly polarized light in a narrow region of wavelength, of fully acetylated (ethyl) cellulose [(acetyl) (ethyl) cellulose, AEC] in acrylic acid (AA) were studied in comparison with (ethyl) cellulose (EC). AEC mesophase formed right-handed chiral nematic structure while EC formed left-handed one. AEC mesophase showed higher birefringence and reflection intensity. The relationship between the reflection wavelength and the polymer concentration was negatively correlated for both AEC and EC mesophases. The relationship between the reflection wavelength and the molecular weight was also negative for AEC mesophase whereas positive for EC mesophase. AEC mesophase was solidified by photopolymerization of AA moiety. It was revealed that the optical properties of AEC mesophase could be preserved by photopolymerization, since the resulting solid material reflects selectively one hand of circularly polarized light.     

Preparation,characterization, and mesophase formation of esters of ethylcellulose and methylcellulose

A range of mixed ether-esters of cellulose was prepared from partially substituted ethylcellulose and methylcellulose. The ¹³C-NMR analysis of ethylcellulose with a DS of 2.5 indicated that the hydroxyl groups at carbon six of anhydroglucose units were completely substituted. Acetylation of the ethylcellulose under different conditions yielded (acetyl) (ethyl) cellulose (AEC) samples with acetyl degree of substitution ranging from 0 to 0.5. Fully substituted (propionyl) (ethyl) cellulose (PEC) and (acetyl) (methyl) cellulose (AMC) were also prepared. Chiral nematic liquid crystals were formed in these mixed ester/ethers of cellulose in concentrated solutions of acidic solvents. The critical concentration for the phase separation of the cellulosic solutions depended on the nature of the substituent, the degree of substitution, and the solvent at a given temperature. Methylcellulose solutions in trifluoroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid form chiral nematic liquid crystals with a left-handed helicoidal structure. The acetylated methyl cellulose samples did not show the reversal of handedness with increasing acetyl content that was previously observed for the corresponding ethylcellulose samples. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Dioxouranium (VI) complexes with cellulose acetate

Dioxouranium [UO₂(VI)] complexes with three degrees of substitution of cellulose acetate, prepared from viscose pulp (DS = 2.2, 2.45 and 2.86), have been synthesis and characterized. Degree of substitution (DS) is defined as the average number of CH groups substituted on each anhydrocellulose repeat unit. Probable structures of the cellulose acetate complexes were inferred from the elemental analysis data, conductance measurements, IR, electronic and ¹H NMR spectra. The results obtained show that the formula of UO₂(VI) complex with cellulose acetate of DS = 2.2 and 2.45 [(CA)₄.UO₂] is more probable than [(CA)₂.UO₂].2(CH₃COO), while the reverse is true for the case of a UO₂ complex with CA of DS = 2.86. For the former formula, cellulose acetate acts as a uni-negatively charged bidentate ligand and reacts with UO₂²⁺ through the ether-carbon-oxygen of the secondary acetylated hydroxyl group of the anhydroglucose unit and the oxygen atom of the residual secondary unacetylated hydroxyl group, forming a five-membered chelate ring. For the later formula, cellulose acetate of DS = 2.86 acts as a neutral bidentate chelating agent through the two ether oxygen atoms of the vicinal ester groups of secondary acetylated hydroxyl groups in anhydroglucose units also forming a five-membered chelate ring. The uranium atom in these complexes is 8-coordinate. The thermal behaviour of cellulose diacetate (DS = 2.2) and cellulose triacetate (DS = 2.86) and their complexes with uranyl acetate in nitrogen atmosphere has been also studied by differential thermal analysis from room temperature to 600 °C. The obtained DTA curves were analyzed using the Prout-Tompkins law. The method of least squares was applied to estimate the appropriate order of the reaction (n), and consequently the thermodynamic parameters. The results revealed that chelation of cellulose acetate with uranyl acetate led to increased thermal stability.     

13C-NMR spectral studies on the distribution of substituents in water-soluble cellulose acetate

The degree of substitution (DS) and distribution of O-acetyl groups of water-soluble cellulose acetate (CA) were investigated by ¹³C-NMR. For this purpose, three different series of CA samples with low DS were prepared by respective homogeneous reaction, i.e., (1) deacetylation of cellulose triacetate (CTA) in acetic acid—water solution (D-series), (2) reaction of CTA with hydrazine (H-series), and (3) acetylation of cellulose with acetic anhydride in a 10% LiCl-dimethylacetamide solution (A-series). It was found that (i) water-soluble CA can be obtained only from D-series products, (ii) the DS value of water-soluble CA ranges from 0.5 to 1.1, (iii) the D-series products exhibit little difference between the relative DS values at C-2, C-3 and C-6 hydroxyl groups, and (iv) the relative DS at C-6 hydroxyl groups is very high compared to those at C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups in H- and A-series products. Aqueous solution of water-soluble CA (D-series sample) showed no gel—sol transition, even when the temperature was raised to 95°C. X-ray diffraction observations revealed that the water-soluble D-series samples were essentially noncrystalline, but the water-insoluble A-series samples were crystalline. It was also found that the relative ease of acetylation is C-6 > C-2 > C-3.     

Thermal behavior of cellulose acetate produced from homogeneous acetylation of bacterial cellulose

Cellulose acetate (CA) is one of the most important cellulose derivatives and its main applications are its use in membranes, films, fibers, plastics and filters. CAs are produced from cellulose sources such as: cotton, sugar cane bagasse, wood and others. One promissory source of cellulose is bacterial cellulose (BC). In this work, CA was produced from the homogeneous acetylation reaction of bacterial cellulose. Degree of substitution (DS) values can be controlled by the acetylation time. The characterization of CA samples showed the formation of a heterogeneous structure for CA samples submitted to a short acetylation time. A more homogeneous structure was produced for samples prepared with a long acetylation time. This fact changes the thermal behavior of the CA samples. Thermal characterization revealed that samples submitted to longer acetylation times display higher crystallinity and thermal stability than samples submitted to a short acetylation time. The observation of these characteristics is important for the production of cellulose acetate from this alternative source.     

Sisal cellulose and its acetates: generation of films and reinforcement in a one-pot process

This study was undertaken to evaluate both the properties of cellulose acetate films as a function of their degree of substitution (DS) and the possibility of generating reinforcements during film preparation. Sisal was selected for the entire study, among other reasons, because it is a rapidly growing source of cellulose. Cellulose acetates with various DS values were prepared in a homogeneous medium (dimethylacetamide/lithium chloride as the solvent system) and characterized. In DMAc/LiCl, cellulose and cellulose acetate films (mixed or not mixed with sisal cellulose) were successfully prepared and characterized. The films with high DS values exhibited lower hygroscopicity, a distinct morphology (scanning electron microscopy images), and lower tensile strength. In some cases, the films prepared from acetates/cellulose exhibited higher tensile strength and/or storage modulus than the acetate films. This result suggested a reinforcing action of the auto-organized cellulose chains that enabled the generation of both a film and reinforcement in a one-pot process.     

13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of cellulose acetate

¹³C-NMR spectra of ring carbons and O-acetyl carbonyl carbons of cellulose acetate (CA) in dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆ were analyzed. The CA samples with the degree of substitution (DS) ranging from 0.84 and 1.91 were prepared by homogeneous acetylation of cellulose with acetic anhydride in a 10% LiCl/dimethyl acetamide solvent. It was found that the use of these low DS samples permitted easier assignments not only of the ring carbon but also of the O-acetyl carbonyl carbon signals. The assignments were confirmed by comparing with the ¹H-NMR spectra of the samples obtained by complete acetylation of the corresponding CA samples with acetyl-d₃ chloride. Two methods for determining the distribution of O-acetyl groups of CA, i.e., the relative DS at the three different types of hydroxyl groups, were developed. One is based on the measurements of the relative intensities of the signals for the ring carbons and the other is based on the measurements of the relative intensities of the signals for the O-acetyl carbonyl carbons.     

The degree of substitution affects the enantioselectivity of sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin chiral stationary phases

Three chiral stationary phases were prepared by dynamic coating of sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin (SBE‐β‐CD) with different degrees of substitution, onto strong anion‐exchange stationary phases. The enantioselective potential and stability of newly prepared chiral stationary phases were examined using a set of structurally different chiral analytes. Measurements were performed in RP‐HPLC. Mobile phases consisted of methanol/formic acid, pH 2.10, and methanol/10 mM ammonium acetate buffer, pH 4.00, in various volume ratios. SBE‐β‐CDs with degrees of substitution (DS) 4, 6.3, and 10 proved suitable for the enantioseparation of 14, 11, and 8 analytes, respectively. The SBE‐β‐CD DS 4 based chiral stationary phase enabled the enantioseparation of the nearly all basic and neutral compounds. Chiral stationary phases with higher sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin substitution (especially DS 10) yielded higher enantioresolution values for acidic compounds.     

纳米纤维素晶须的表面醋酸酯化改性及复合材料的力学性能

采用硫酸水解法制备纳米纤维素晶须, 再以冰醋酸为分散介质, 浓硫酸为催化剂, 醋酸酐为酯化剂对纳米纤维素晶须进行不同程度醋酸酯化改性, 得到醋酸酯化的纳米纤维素. 采用红外光谱(FTIR)、 X射线光衍射(XRD)、 透射电子显微镜(TEM)和X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等手段对改性产物进行分析和表征. 结果表明, 改性纳米纤维素晶须中醋酸酯基的平均取代度过小或过大时均不适宜用作复合材料的增强相. 当改性纳米纤维素晶须中醋酸酯基的平均取代度为0.05时, 醋酸酯化反应只发生在纳米纤维素晶须的表面. 此时, 晶须能在丙酮中稳定悬浮, 表现出流动双折射现象, 并保持了改性前纳米纤维素晶须的棒状形态和高结晶度. 将这种改性后的纳米纤维素晶须作为增强相与醋酸纤维素通过溶液浇铸法制成纳米复合膜, 结果显示, 与空白醋酸纤维素膜相比, 添加改性纳米纤维素晶须后, 纳米复合膜的拉伸强度、 杨氏模量和断裂伸长率都得到了提高. 在玻璃化转变区间纳米复合膜储能模量的降低幅度小于空白膜.     

Four-unit linking groups V. Optically active dopants

A number of diesters incorporating a four-unit linking group in the acid part (3-propyloxy, (E)-3-propenyloxy, and 4-butyl units) and an optically active centre in the diol part have been prepared. Structurally related three and four ring dioxolanes derived from the corresponding aldehyde precursors to the acids (i.e., also containing 3-propyloxy, (E)-3-propenyloxy, and 4-butyl groups) and the optically active tartaric acids have also been synthesized. The physical properties of these potential chiral dopants pertinent to electrooptic display device and thermochromic applications have been determined. These new chiral dopants are characterized by short pitches, good solubility in nematic hosts, excellent chemical, photochemical and thermal stability, etc. Most of these new optically active substances are well suited for at least one potential application for a chiral nematic mesophase with exactly denned properties made from a standard nematic mesophase and an optically active dopant. A small number of the new substances exhibit mesomorphic properties at elevated temperatures.     

Dye induced great enhancement of broadband reflection from polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals

A series of polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) films were prepared from cholesteric liquid crystal (Ch‐LC) mixtures containing different components such as non‐reactive LC monomer, polymerizable monomer, chiral dopant, dye, and photoinitiator upon polymerization. The influence of the polymerizable monomer and dye of Ch‐LC mixtures on the reflection properties was investigated. The reflection bandwidth for all the samples can be increased by photo‐polymerization, and the network upon polymerization derived from two different polymerizable monomers with both one and two functional groups is more effective than that from one polymerizable monomer for broadening the reflection band. Especially, a dye‐doped Ch‐LC film can reflect incident light with the bandwidth over the wavelength range of 550–2350 nm, which is due to a greater pitch gradient formed inside of Ch‐LC film. The gradient pitch network structure was firstly demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with the film prepared from high diacrylate monomer concentration and subsequently proved by using a wash‐out/refill method. The nematic liquid crystals monomers was infiltrated into the polymer network that was prefabricated by removing the low molar weight LCs from the original PSCLCs film, and SEM exhibited the existence of a pitch gradient across the film thickness. The refilled nematic liquid crystals film showed broadband reflection after polymerzition, too. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chiral nematic suspensions of cellulose crystallites; phase separation and magnetic field orientation

Suspensions of rod-like cellulose crystallites of axial ratio ≈ 20-40, prepared by acid hydrolysis of natural cellulose fibres with sulphuric acid, give stable ordered fluids that display well-formed textures and disclinations characteristic of chiral nematic liquid crystalline phases. The critical volume fraction for phase separation of salt-free suspensions is typically 0.03, with a relatively narrow biphasic region. Because of the negative diamagnetic susceptibility of cellulose, the ordered phase becomes oriented in a magnetic field with its chiral nematic axis parallel to the applied field.     

Controlled production of patterns in iridescent solid films of cellulose nanocrystals

A method to produce predefined patterns in solid iridescent films of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by differential heating of aqueous CNC suspensions during film casting has been discovered. Placing materials of different temperatures beneath an evaporating CNC suspension results in watermark-like patterns of different reflection wavelength incorporated within the final film structure. The patterned areas are of different thickness and different chiral nematic pitch than the surrounding film; heating results in thicker areas of longer pitch. Thermal pattern creation in CNC films is proposed to be caused by differences in evaporation rates and thermal motion in the areas of the CNC suspension corresponding to the pattern-producing object and the surrounding, unperturbed suspension. Pattern formation was found to occur during the final stages of drying during film casting, once the chiral nematic structure is kinetically trapped in the gel state. It is thus possible to control the reflection wavelength of CNC films by an external process in the absence of additives.     

The synthesis of cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxylates and a comparison of their mesomorphic behaviour with isomeric cholesterol esters with a reversed ester linkage

The syntheses of seven esters of cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxylic acid are reported and the melting points, transition temperatures and mesophase morphologies of the esters are compared with those of the isomeric 3beta-cholesterol compounds which have the ester link reversed. For the examples reported, the cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxlates always have significantly lower melting points, but the differences in clearing temperatures for the two series of esters are usually much less. Several of the new compounds give an increased chiral nematic phase range and an intense selective reflection of light. They therefore represent a novel type of chiral nematic material for use in thermochromic applications.     

The synthesis of cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxylates and a comparison of their mesomorphic behaviour with isomeric cholesterol esters with a reversed ester linkage

The syntheses of seven esters of cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxylic acid are reported and the melting points, transition temperatures and mesophase morphologies of the esters are compared with those of the isomeric 3beta-cholesterol compounds which have the ester link reversed. For the examples reported, the cholest-5-ene-3beta-carboxlates always have significantly lower melting points, but the differences in clearing temperatures for the two series of esters are usually much less. Several of the new compounds give an increased chiral nematic phase range and an intense selective reflection of light. They therefore represent a novel type of chiral nematic material for use in thermochromic applications.     

Structural Transition in Liquid Crystal Bubbles Generated from Fluidic Nanocellulose Colloids

The structural transition in micrometer‐sized liquid crystal bubbles (LCBs) derived from rod‐like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was studied. The CNC‐based LCBs were suspended in nematic or chiral nematic liquid‐crystalline CNCs, which generated topological defects and distinct birefringent textures around them. The ordering and structure of the LCBs shifted from a nematic to chiral nematic arrangement as water evaporation progressed. These packed LCBs exhibited a specific photonic cross‐communication property that is due to a combination of Bragg reflection and bubble curvature and size.     

Effect of degree of acetylation and solvent on the chiroptical properties of lyotropic (acetyl) (ethyl) cellulose solutions

(Acetyl) (ethyl) cellulose (AEC) polymers with an ethyl degree of substitution (DS) of 2.5 and acetyl DS ranging from 0 to 0.5 dissolve readily in a wide range of organic solvents and form chiral nematic liquid crystalline phases in concentrated solution. The chiroptical properties of these liquid crystals are strongly influenced by the acetyl content and solvent. In dichloromethane, dibromomethane, chloroform, bromoform, m-cresol, acetic acid, and aqueous phenol, the AEC lyotropic mesophases all show a handedness inversion as the acetyl DS of the polymers is increased, changing from left- to right-handed supermolecular helicoidal structures. The temperature dependence of the pitch for these mesophases is also reversed from negative to positive with increasing acetyl DS in all the above solvents except aqueous phenol, in which the corresponding AEC mesophases change from positive to negative. The optical microscopic, optical diffraction, and ORD evidence provide a unique indication that the reversal of the handedness and temperature dependence for the AEC mesophases occurs at a compensated degree of acetylation, DA^*. The corresponding compensated mesophases show an infinite pitch and behave optically like nematic mesophases. The value of the DA^* is dependent on solvent. In dichloroacetic acid, AEC liquid crystals remain right-handed, independent of the acetyl DS. At given concentration and temperature, the long pitch samples flow much more readily than short pitch samples. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Effect of Molecular Structure on the GasPermeability of Cellulose Aliphatate Esters简

In this work, four kinds of cellulose aliphatate esters, cellulose acetate （CA）, cellulose propionate （CP）, cellulose butyrate （CB） and cellulose acetate butyrate （CAB） are synthesized by the homogeneous acylation reactions in cellulose/AmimC1 solutions. These cellulose aliphatate esters are used to prepare gas separation membranes and the effects of molecular structure, such as substituent type, degree of substitution （DS） and distribution of substituents, on the gas permeability are studied. For CAs, as the DS increases, their gas permeabilities for all five gases （02, N2, CH4, CO and CO2） increase, and the ideal permselectivity significantly increases first and then slightly decreases. At similar DS value, the homogenously synthesized CA （distribution order of acetate substituent： C6 〉 C3 〉 C2） is superior to the heterogeneously synthesized CA （distribution order of acetate substituent： C3 〉 C2 〉 C6） in gas separation. With the increase of chain length of aliphatate substituents from acetate to propionate, and to butyrate, the gas permeability of cellulose aliphatate esters gradually increases. The cellulose mixed ester CAB with short acetate groups and relatively long butyrate groups exhibits higher gas permeability or better permselectivity than individual CA or CB via the alteration of the DS of two substituents.     

Studies on the homogeneous acetylation of cellulose in the novel solvent dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate

The novel solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/tetrabutylammonium fluoride trihydrate (TBAF . 3H(2)O) was studied for acetylation of linters cellulose. In order to control the degree of substitution (DS), acetylation of the macromolecule was carried out at different reaction time and temperature, molar ratio of reactants, as well as under variation of the concentration of TBAF . 3H(2)O in solution. Cellulose acetate (CA) was accessible with DS ranging from 0.43 to 2.77. The change in concentration of TBAF . 3H(2)O in DMSO showed a strong influence on DS. The most appropriate reaction conditions for acetylation of linters cellulose regarding maximal DS were evaluated. The structure of the CA was characterized by means of FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The solubility of the CA depends not only on the DS but also on the reaction conditions applied, indicating a different distribution of acetate moieties both within and between polymer chains.