X-ray measurement of cellulose crystallite orientation in cotton fibers

The orientation of crystallites in a bundle of parallel cotton fibers was studied by x-ray diffraction. The intensity distributions of the 101 and 002 diffraction rings showed the distributions of (101) and (002) planes to be identical within the limits of accuracy. Therefore, the crystallites in the cotton fibers very likely had random orientation about their long axes. The orientation distribution of these axes was calculated by using the intensity distribution of the 002 diffraction ring. The cylindrically symmetrical density distribution J(β) thus obtained was multiplied by sin β to obtain the distribution of relative numbers of crystallites at given angles β to the long axis of the fiber. The average 〈β〉 was found to be in agreement with the value of 〈sin²β〉 measured from the 002 diffraction ring. The intensity distributions on the 101 and 002 diffraction rings showed small fluctuations. These fluctuations appeared much stronger in the J(β) and sin β J(β) distributions, indicating clear discontinuities in the pitch angle distribution.     

Solution properties and chain conformation characteristics of cellulose tricarbanilate

Fractions of two cellulose tricarbanilate samples were characterized by light-scattering (weight-average molecular weight, second virial coefficient, mean-square radius of gyration), gel permeation chromatography (polydispersity index), and viscometry (intrinsic viscosity) in tetrahydrofuran and acetone. The intrinsic viscosity data were analyzed in terms of the theory developed for the continuous wormlike cylinder model, and the chain parameters (Kuhn statistical segment length λ^?1, chain diameter d, and shift factor M_L) were evaluated. The molecular-weight dependence of the mean-square radius of gyration in tetrahydrofuran was calculated for the Kratky—Porod chain model and compared with the experimental results. Data on the intrinsic viscosity and radii of gyration for other solvents at temperatures from 0 to 100°C were analyzed in the same way, and the effects of solvent and temperature on the statistical segment length were evaluated. Polymer—solvent interaction parameters were estimated from the second virial coefficients.     

Hydrodynamically induced formation of cellulose fibers. I. Observations on the formation of cellulose fibers from stirred solutions

Like synthetic polymers, a natural polymer such as cellulose may crystallize in fibrous form from stirred solutions. In the present work, it is demonstrated that cellulose fibers can be formed by precipitation from dimethyl sulfoxide/paraformaldehyde solutions by two methods that involve different mechanisms of fiber formation, viz., (A) precipitation of cellulose by addition of nonsolvent to the stirred cellulose solution, and (B) precipitation of cellulose by coagulation of droplets of cellulose solution in a stirred precipitant. Both processes yield fibers with properties depending on the stirring speed and the coagulant strength. The molecular orientation and tensile strength of the fibers produced by method A was low, but increased with the stirring speed, while some fibers formed by method B reached extremely high orientation, depending on the thickness of the fibers. The two mechanisms of fiber formation are discussed on the basis of the experimental observations.     

Molecular structure and conformation of dinitrosylheme

DFT calculations indicate a surprisingly strong cis orientational preference of the two NO ligands of dinitrosylheme, a unique reactive species of potential biological relevance that has been recently generated and spectroscopically characterized at low temperature. While a trans centrosymmetric conformation has been proposed on the basis of IR spectroscopic data, DFT calculations favor a cis C2v conformation of the two NOs over a trans orientation by about 20 kcal/mol.     

The statistics of chain sectioning experiments on cellulose fibers

It has been suggested that transverse sectioning of natural cellulose fibers can be used to test ideas about microfibril structure. This proposal has been examined theoretically and numerical calculations of the weight-distribution curve of sectioned chains are given for several different models. These calculations illustrate the effects that different types of chain folding have on the sectioned size distribution. The difficulties involved in the practical execution of this type of experiment are discussed and it is concluded that fiber-sectioning experiments described in the literature do not disprove the folded-chain hypothesis.     

Molecular dimensions and chain conformation in glassy syndiotactic polystyrene

For the first time the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) from mixtures of protonated and totally deuterated syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) has been studied. Two amorphous samples with similar molecular weights have been measured at various concentrations of the protonated part. All measurements were performed at room temperature using the scattering equipment of two different laboratories. The molecular weight M_w evaluated from SANS data agreed with those obtained by gel permeation analysis (GPC). In the Kratky representation the scattering contribution due to the contrast scattering shows a plateau behavior up to q = 0.45 Å^?1, where q is magnitude of the scattering vector. This observation is in evident contrast to what is expected from the rotational isomeric state (RIS) model. In addition the characteristic ratios C_∞, derived either from the plateau height or from radii of gyration of the Zimm regime and being in reasonable agreement with each other, show strong deviations from the predictions of the RIS model. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and characterization of carboxymethylcelluloses (CMC) from non-wood fibers I.Accessibility of cellulose fibers and CMC synthesis

This paper explores the production of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) fromseveral bleached cellulose pulps obtained from non-wood species. The chemicalcomposition (-cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin content), the degreeofswelling, viscosity, solubility in concentrated NaOH and crystallinity ofsoda/AQ cellulose pulps from abaca, jute, sisal, linen and Miscanthussinensis were determined. The pulps were carboxymethylated by one andtwo successive reaction steps in aqueous medium under identical conditions. Thedegree of substitution (DS) of CMC was found to be dependent upon the source ofthe cellulose pulp, but generally it was close to 1 with one etherificationtreatment and around 2 after the second. The molar mass of CMC was found to bedependent on the initial intrinsic viscosity of the cellulose pulp. The weightaverage molar mass of our CMCs ranged from 1.5×10⁵ to2.8×10⁵. Increasing the DS up to 2 improved the CMC solubility, butviscosity slightly decreased due to a slight degradation of the polymer.     

Dielectric study of viscose rayon and viscose hydrocelluloses. I.

Both dielectric and x-ray results on viscose rayon and its hydrolysis residues show a rapid increase in the lateral order arrangement of the fiber chains in the earlier stages of hydrolysis. On the other hand, a divergence between the two measurements is found in the later stages of acid action. This is explained in terms of the role played by the fractions of molecular low dimensions which are in sensitive to x-ray diffraction but contribute to the polarizability of the dielectrics.     

Molecular conformation and electronic structure of 1,1'-bipyrrole. an ab initio approach

Internal rotation about the N-N ' interannular bond of 1,1'-bipyrrole has been investigated by means of STO-3G and 4-31G ab initio calculations. A perpendicular disposition of the pyrrole rings is predicted as the most stable conformation. The highest occupied π MOs of 1,1'-bipyrrole are correlated with those of pyrrole and their evolution with the twisting angle is analyzed. Electronic structure predictions are in good agreement with experimental photoelectron spectral data.     

Kinetics of adsorption of polyvinylamine on cellulose fibers. I. Adsorption from salt-free solutions

Adsorption of fully hydrolyzed polyvinylamine on cellulose fibers in the short term was investigated by supplying the polymer to the fibers, first instantaneously by pouring the polymer solution into a jar containing the fiber dispersion (jar experiments) and second, at controlled rates (the reactor experiments). In the latter case, the rate of supply of polymer to the fiber dispersion confined in the reactor was monitored by setting the concentration of the solution being injected at a controlled rate. The concentration of the polymer solution exerts a paramount influence on the kinetics of adsorption and on the amount of polymer adsorbed at (or near) fiber surface saturation, while the rate of polymer supply only plays a minor role. The main observation is the emergence of two types of polymer layers corresponding to diffuse and dense layers. The former were characterized by adsorption layers of density smaller than 0.65 mg/g cellulose that are composed of adsorbed polymers having sustained extended flattening in the adsorbed state. The latter reach densities as high as 10 mg/g cellulose when the fiber surface is fully coated, thus indicating that reconformation is limited or even impeded at short terms. The threshold adsorption corresponds more or less to equilibrated layers, since the final coverage determined at adsorption equilibrium did not exceed 0.6 to 0.7 mg/g cellulose.     

Molecular vibrations,electronic structure and conformation of diprotonated thiocarbohydrazide

The infrared spectra of diprotonated species of thiocarbohydrazide and its perdeuterated derivative have been examined in the crystalline state. A complete vibrational assignment with a full normal coordinate treatment based on a Urey—Bradley type intramolecular potential Function supplemented with a valence force function for the out of plane and torsional modes is proposed and the origin of the amide II band splittings is explained. A CNDO/2 study of diprotonated thiocarbohydrazide and its neutral molecule is undertaken and the changes in the molecular electronic structures and conformations consequent to protonation are determined and briefly discussed. The magnitude of the N—N⁺H₃ torsional barrier is estimated to be 21 kJ mol^? (5.0 kcal mol^?1) whereas the barrier for the C—N group is found to be 92 kJ mol^?1 (22.0 kcal mol^?1).     

Design and characterization of cellulose fibers with hierarchical structure for polymer reinforcement

This paper describes an approach to manufacture hierarchical composites from environmentally friendly materials by grafting cellulose whiskers onto regenerated cellulose fibers (Cordenka 700). Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed to verify the degree of modification. The mechanical properties of the unmodified and modified fibers were analyzed using fiber bundle tensile static and loading–unloading tests. To show the effect of cellulose whiskers grafting on the Cordenka fibers, epoxy based composites were manufactured and tensile tests done on transverse uni-directional specimens. The mechanical properties were significantly increased by fiber modification and addition of the nano-phase into composite reinforced with micro-sized fibers.     

Thermal decomposition of native cellulose: Influence on crystallite size

The thermal degradation behavior of crystalline cellulose has been investigated using thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, and derivative thermogravimetry in a nitrogen atmosphere. Three cellulose samples, Halocynthia, cotton, and commercial microcrystalline cellulose Funacel, were used in this study to analyze the influence on crystallite size. They all belongs to cellulose I_β type and those crystallite sizes calculated from the X-ray diffractometry profiles by Scherrer equation were very different in the order Halocynthia > cotton > Funacel. The thermal decomposition of cellulose shifted to higher temperatures with increasing crystallite size. However, activation energies for the thermal degradation were the almost the same among the samples: 159-166 kJ mol⁻¹. These results indicated that the crystal structure does not affect the activation energy of the thermal degradation but the crystallite size affects the thermal degradation temperature.     

On the structure and the chain conformation of side-chain liquid crystal polymers

Abstract

Backbone anisotropy and the structure of the mesophases of a series of side-chain liquid crystal polymers have been studied in the bulk by neutron scattering. The backbone conformation is obtained by small-angle neutron scattering on mixtures of hydrogenous polymers with deuteriated backbones. The components of the radius of gyration parallel, R _⊥ and perpendicular, R ∥ to the magnetic field are determined as a function of temperature for both the nematic phase and the smectic phase. It is shown that the polymer backbone is deformed in both phases. When the polymer exhibits only a nematic phase, it adopts a prolate conformation, where the average backbone direction is more or less parallel to the aligned mesogenic groups. Upon transition from the smectic phase to a nematic phase, the backbone in the nematic phase assumes a slightly oblate shape. This tendency towards oblate shape is due to the smectic fluctuations which are always present in such nematic phases. The exentricity of the oblate backbone conformation in the smectic phase is always larger than in the nematic phase. This is attributed to a periodic distribution of the backbone between the mesophase layers. Then, the backbone anisotropy depends not only on the smectic structure (S_A1, S_Ad), but also on the temperature dependence of the density of aligned mesogenic groups in the layers. On the other hand, it is shown that the isotopic mixtures are no longer ideal when polymers deuteriated in the mesogenic moieties are mixed with the corresponding hydrogenous polymers.     

Copolymerization of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene: Effect on chain conformation and crystal structure

A series of new copolymers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) containing up to 50 mol % of the hexafluoropropylene comonomer have been investigated with respect to chain conformation and crystal structure using wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Increasing HFP content leads to significant departures from the highly ordered crystalline structure of the homopolymer PTFE; the helical conformation of the chain relaxes and untwists to accommodate the larger  CF₃ pendant group in the HFP unit. Simultaneously the lateral hexagonal packing of the helices becomes less ordered and the a-dimension of the hexagonal cell increases. The above effects are progressive with increasing HFP content. At 50 mol % HFP incorporation the structure is a disordered crystalline phase. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2811–2819, 1998     

Thermal degradation behavior of cellulose fibers partially esterified with some long chain organic acids

The thermal degradation behavior of cellulose fibers and some fibrous cellulose esters with partial degree of substitution has been studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Cellulose esters were prepared by heterogeneous esterification in Py/TsCl with unsaturated or saturated long chain organic acids [undecylenic (C₁₁), undecanoic (C₁₁), oleic (C₁₈) and stearic (C₁₈)]. The thermal degradation of cellulose fibers follows a one-step process. The thermal stability of cellulose esters is inferior to that of unmodified cellulose fibers and the thermograms show a two-step degradation process, probably controlled by crosslinking reactions, which occur during thermal decomposition. Exothermic peaks in the DSC thermograms are also an indication of such reactions. Kinetic parameters such as the activation energy E, order of decomposition n, and frequency factor Z were obtained following the Friedman method. The cellulose sample followed first order of decomposition, however for cellulose esters higher orders were observed.     

Molecular structure and properties of cellulose acetate chemically modified with caprolactone

Cellulose acetate (CA) with a degree of substitution of 1.7 was modified with caprolactone (CL) under various reaction conditions in an internal mixer. Processing temperature changed from 120 to 220 °C, while reaction time varied between 5 and 45 min. The composition and structure of the polymer was analyzed by various methods including FTIR, MALDI-TOF and NMR spectroscopy and its mechanical characteristics were determined by dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile testing. The results indicate that homopolymerization occurs under relatively mild conditions, while grafting requires higher temperatures and longer times. Grafted polycaprolactone (gPCL) chains are attached mainly to positions 2 and 6 of the glucose ring and their length increases with increasing reaction time and temperature, but the chains are always much shorter than those obtained in solution polymerization. Changes in the degree of substitution during grafting are small indicating that homopolymerization proceeds easier than grafting. Grafting seems to be easier in cellulose acetate with a larger degree of substitution in spite of the smaller number of active -OH groups present. Internal plasticization is more efficient than the external plasticizing effect of monomeric caprolactone. Plasticization results in a decrease of stiffness and strength, but deformability increases only slightly.     

Molecular structure and conformation of gaseous vinyldimethylchlorosilane as determined by electron diffraction

The molecular structure of vinyldimethylchlorosilane has been determined by gas phase electron diffraction at room temperature. The least squares values of the bond lengths (r_g) and bond angles (∠_α) are : r(CH) = 1.086(6) Å, r(CC) = 1.347(5) Å, r(SiC=) = 1.838(6) Å, r(SiC) = 1.876(3) Å, r(SiCl) = 2.078(2) Å, ∠CCSi = 127.8° (1.2) and ∠=CSiCl = 107° (1). Models with pure syn form and a mixture of syn and gauche gave equally good agreement with the diffraction data.