Lime mud CaCO3 for use as a filler material in papermaking: Impact of its preflocculation with cationic polyacrylamide

Cationic polyacrylamide with different molecular weights were used to preflocculate the lime mud (LM) before it was added to the paper stock for handsheet preparation. The particle sizes, ζ potential, and morphology of the unpreflocculated and resulting preflocculated LM were studied. We found that high‐molecular‐weight cationic polyacrylamide (H‐CPAM) led to larger LM flocs with a more positive ζ potential. The scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the morphological structure of the filler hardly changed during the preflocculation process. The effects of the preflocculation on the filler retention and paper properties were also investigated. The results show that the handsheets filled with preflocculated LM had better hydrophobicity and strength properties compared to handsheets filled with unpreflocculated LM, especially for H‐CPAM‐preflocculated LM. The paper formation was also improved, and the optical properties nearly remained the same. In addition, the LM preflocculated with H‐CPAM had the highest filler retention. At a filler loading of 30%, the filler retention of the H‐CPAM‐preflocculated LM was higher than 86; it was less than 82.5% in other cases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41640.     

CuFe2O4/纳米纤维素磁性复合材料的制备及催化性能

采用简单易行的一锅溶剂热法原位合成CuFe₂O₄/纳米纤维素（CuFe₂O₄/CNC）磁性复合材料,并研究CuFe₂O₄/CMC磁性复合材料催化剂在NaBH₄作用下催化还原4-硝基酚（4-NP）性能。结果表明:所制备的CuFe₂O₄/CNC磁性复合材料为单一尖晶石结构,具有超顺磁性,纳米颗粒尺寸约为10 nm,其饱和磁化强度为33.15 emu·g-1。与CuFe₂O₄纳米颗粒相比,CuFe₂O₄/CNC磁性复合材料的比表面积提高到89.9 m2·g-1（CuFe₂O₄纳米颗粒的比表面积为53.9 m2·g-1）。CNC有助于改善CuFe₂O₄的单分散性,且对4-NP的吸附作用能加快反应的传质速率。将CuFe₂O₄/CNC磁性复合材料用于催化还原4-NP,反应符合一级动力学特征;当CNC的添加量为0.2 g时,可以将4-NP（100 μL,0.005 mol·L-1）溶液在25 s催化还原完全,表现出优异的反应活性。催化剂循环使用5次后,对4-NP的转化率仍能保持90%以上。      

Conductive Polyaniline/Cellulose/Graphite Composite Films with High Thermal Stability and Antibacterial Activity

Functional composite films were successfully prepared from cellulose, graphite (GP), and polyaniline (PANI) using a combination of physical and chemical processes. Cellulose was dissolved in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide monohydrate (NMMO) and regenerated in water to form the matrix. GP was dispersed in the NMMO solvent prior to the dissolution of the cellulose, and PANI was deposited on the surfaces of the cellulose/GP films by in situ chemical polymerization. The structures of the PANI/cellusose/GP composite films were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and SEM/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The mechanical strengths, thermal stabilities, conductivities, and antibacterial activities of the films were studied in detail. The results showed that GP formed a multilayered structure in the cellulose matrix and that the PANI nanoparticles were tightly wrapped on the film surface. The film thickness increased from 40 m to 100 m after the addition of GP and PANI. The tensile strength of the composite films was 80~107 MPa, with the elongation at break being 3%~10%. The final residual weight of the composite films was as high as 65%, and the conductivity of the composite films reached 14.36 S/m. The cellulose matrix ensured that the films were flexible and exhibited desirable mechanical properties, while the GP filler significantly improved the thermal stability of the films. The PANI coating acted as a protective layer during burning and provided good electrical conductivity and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli; both of these characteristics were slightly enhanced by the incorporation of GP. These PANI/cellulose/GP composite films should be suitable for use in electronics, antistatic packing, and numerous other applications.     

Comparison of cellulose and chitin nanocrystals for reinforcing regenerated cellulose fibers

In this study, regenerated cellulose fibers reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals (CENC) and chitin nanocrystals (CHNC) were prepared by blending the nanocrystals suspensions with the cellulose solution in NaOH/urea/water solvent at room temperature. The effect of nanocrystals' addition on the properties of spinning dopes and regenerated fibers were investigated and compared. Results showed that the obtained CENC and CHNC had different dimensions, and both of them increased the viscosity and decreased the transparency of the spinning dopes. However, the dissolution state of cellulose was not changed. CHNC had a greater influence on the properties of spinning dopes, while CENC had more obvious effect on the performance of regenerated fibers. The CENC reinforced fibers showed a higher crystallinity index as compared to the CHNC reinforced fibers. The tensile strength of the regenerated fibers was evidently improved when 3 wt % CENC or 2 wt % CHNC were added, while the elongation at break of the fibers was slightly decreased with the increase of nanocrystals content. The morphology and thermal stability of the regenerated fibers was not affected by the addition of nanocrystals. This study suggested that the dimension, group and content of nanocrystals were important factors for the reinforcement of regenerated cellulose fibers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44880.