A novel polymeric stabilizing system for modified lyocell solutions

A novel polymeric stabilizer consisting of iminodiacetic acid sodium salt (ISDB) and benzyl amine (BSDB) covalently bound to a styrene/divinyl benzene copolymer were studied. Calorimetric, spectroscopic, rheological, and high performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed distinctive improvements of the thermal stability of modified Lyocell solutions compared to the unstabilized solution and to that with conventional NaOH/propyl gallate stabilizer. Segregation processes of the system cellulose/N‐methylmorpholine‐N‐oxide and autocatalytic reactions caused by carboxyl group‐containing additives are suppressed by ISDB/BSDB. Concerning to surface‐active additives, enhanced thermal stability is only received for a weakly reactive charcoal. In the case of nanoscaled carbon black modifier, autocatalytic reactions indicated by isoperibolic measures are prevented by the new polymeric stabilizer system. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1702–1713, 2006