Amorphous celluloses stable in aqueous media: Regeneration from SO2–amine solvent systems

Amorphous celluloses were prepared by regeneration of cellulose from its solutions in the SO₂–diethylamine–dimethylsulfoxide (SO₂–DEA–DMSO) solvent system, and other selected SO₂–amine–organic solvents. The celluloses were amorphous whether regenerated in water or in alcohols or other organic solvents; in this respect the observations differ from all prior experience in the regeneration of cellulose. These celluloses retain their amorphous character even after extended soaking in water at room temperature. Viscosity measurements have shown that little or no depolymerization occurs during the dissolution, regeneration, and drying processes. Thus the procedures allow the preparation of amorphous celluloses of a wide range of molecular weights for use to model the behavior of amorphous domains in fibrous celluloses. The unusual stability of the amorphous cellulose structures prepared by these procedures is attributed to very rapid decomposition of the SO₂–amine complex with the cellulosic hydroxyl groups which is believed to occur in the solvated state. The rate of decomposition of this complex appears to be sufficiently high so that the cellulose chains aggregate in an amorphous state before they have any opportunity to realign into crystalline domains.