Influences of diffusion coefficient of 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride on structure and properties of regenerated cellulose fiber obtained via dry-jet-wet spinning

The diffusion dynamics of the cellulose/1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim]Cl) solution during coagulation of regenerated cellulose fiber in a nonsolvent bath was investigated in detail. According to Fick's second law of diffusion, the experimental data were fitted to obtain the diffusion coefficients of [Amim]Cl (D). The cellulose concentration, bath type, and temperature were varied to analyze their influence on the diffusion coefficient of [Amim]Cl. Furthermore, the dependence of the structure and properties of the regenerated fiber obtained via dry-jet-wet spinning on the diffusion coefficients were analyzed. Many defects were formed in the surface and cross sections of the regenerated fibers prepared with high diffusion coefficients. The crystallization and mechanical properties deteriorated with the increase in the diffusion rate of [Amim]Cl. Therefore, the diffusion coefficients of [Amim]Cl should be kept relatively low to enable the preparation of uniform-structured regenerated cellulose fibers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47609.     

Characteristics of polyacrylonitrile solutions and fibers varied with the dissolution process in ionic liquid

The concentrated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solutions were prepared with 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) as solvent by static state, stirring, and kneading. The steady and oscillatory shear tests were carried out to investigate the viscoelastic behaviors of the PAN/[BMIM]Cl solutions by rotational rheometer. It was found that the zero shear‐rate viscosity and relaxation time of the solution prepared by kneading were lowest and the non‐Newtonian index was largest among the solution. During kneading, the gelation temperature of the viscous and homogenous solution was at the lowest temperature 22.7°C among the all three solutions. Only the solutions prepared by stirring and kneading could be spun by dry‐jet wet spinning technology. The fiber processed with the solution prepared by kneading could be drawn with a higher draw ratio, showing the larger draw ability. The supramolecular structure and properties of the fibers were studied by synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) technologies, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and mechanical tests. All the results showed that the kneading is an efficient method for PAN fiber spinning with [BMIM]Cl as solvent. It lead to the investigation of the methods of preparation of PAN solution in [BMIM]Cl, which affect the homogeneity of the solutions and hence the resulting characteristics of PAN fibers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:558–564, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

The viscoelastic behavior of concentrated polyacrylonitrile/1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride from solution to gel

The viscoelastic behavior of concentrated polyacrylonitrile (PAN) /1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) solutions at different concentrations and temperatures has been investigated by rheology. For concentrated polymer solutions at low temperature (40°C), the shear viscosity was found to show a raid decrease from the ending of Newtonian plateau. At relatively high shear rate or frequency for the concentrated PAN/[BMIM]Cl solutions, the deviation from the empirical Cox–Merz rule was quite evident, which suggested the formation of heterogeneous structures within these solutions. However, the dependence of G′ and G″ on angular frequency presented approximate linearity with similar slope at some temperatures between 100°C and 20°C. All the results lead us to the fact that the gelation has occurred within the concentrated solutions during cooling and the process was found to be thermoreversible. The gelation temperatures of the solutions have exhibited strong concentration dependence. It may be suggested that the microphase separation may be the major reason for the gelation of the concentrated PAN/[BMIM]Cl solutions during cooling process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:598–606, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effect of coagulation conditions on solvent diffusions and the structures and tensile properties of solution spun polyacrylonitrile fibers

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were spun by solution spinning. In this work, two coagulation compositions, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water and methanol, were used, and coagulation temperatures were varied from ?20 to 0 to 20 °C. The coagulation compositions and temperatures strongly affected the solvent diffusion processes, the structures of as‐spun fibers, and the tensile properties of final drawn fibers. When DMSO/water was used as coagulation bath, non‐solvent (water) diffused into PAN fibers and led to a quick PAN solidification. By comparison, when methanol was used as coagulation bath, no or minimal amount of methanol diffused inward to the fibers. The different solvent diffusion behaviors in DMSO/water and methanol baths led to different structures of as‐spun PAN fibers. It was observed that the tensile properties of final drawn fibers strongly depended on the coagulation conditions. When methanol was used as coagulation bath and the bath temperature was ?20 °C, PAN fibers was found to possess the best tensile properties, a tensile strength of 0.89 GPa and young modulus of 20.4 GPa. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134 , 44390.     

凝固浴氨化对PAN湿法纺丝凝固行为的影响

在二甲基亚砜/水(DMSO/H_2O)凝固体系中加入氨水,以pH值控制凝固浴氨化程度,研究了凝固浴氨化对聚丙烯腈(PAN)湿法纺丝凝固行为的影响;采用扫描电子显微镜表征PAN初生纤维的皮层结构,采用卡尔费休水分仪和气相色谱仪研究了氨化对水和DMSO扩散系数的影响。结果表明:当凝固浴pH值为8.0时,PAN初生纤维的皮层最薄;随着凝固浴pH值的增大,水的扩散系数逐渐减小,DMSO的扩散系数(D_(DMSO))先减小后增大,当pH值为8.0时,D_(DMSO)出现最小值;氨化的作用机理是通过氨与水和DMSO分子间的氢键作用来实现的。     

酸改性膨润土对［BMIM］Cl离子液体的吸附

利用酸改性膨润土对低浓度［BMIM］Cl离子液体水溶液的吸附性能进行研究;考察了吸附温度、吸附时间、溶液pH值等吸附条件对离子液体的吸附率的影响。结果表明;酸改性膨润土对［BMIM］Cl的阳离子具有良好的吸附作用。在中性溶液中;酸改性膨润土对离子液体具有最大的吸附率。酸改性膨润土对离子液体的吸附过程是放热过程且属于Langmuir等温吸附;同时;得到膨润土上离子液体吸附的Langmuir等温方程且相关系数大于0.99。     

纺丝工艺对离子液体法新型纤维素纤维性能的影响

以离子液体1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑氯盐（[BMIM]C1）为溶剂,用干湿法纺丝制备了再生纤维素纤维,通过正交试验设计和系统试验,考察了气隙长度、喷头拉伸比、凝固浴浓度和凝固浴温度等工艺参数对制得的再生纤维素纤维的力学性能的影响,找出离子液体法新型纤维素纤维的最佳纺丝工艺。试验结果表明,对于该体系,纺丝工艺参数中凝固浴温度和拉伸比对纤维的拉伸强度、初始模量的影响最大,气隙长度对纤维断裂伸长影响最大。     

间位芳纶溶解及凝固性能研究

以二甲基乙酰胺(DMAc)、二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)、二甲基亚砜(DMSO)、1-甲基-2-吡咯烷酮(NMP)为溶剂,分别加入LiCl和CaCl_2制备溶解体系,研究了间位芳纶在这几种溶解体系中的溶解性能。再以H_2O-DMAc、H_2O-DMF、H_2O-DMSO、H_2O-NMP为凝固浴,研究了溶剂种类、芳纶溶液质量分数、离子浓度等对间位芳纶溶液的凝固性能的影响。结果显示:Li Cl-DMAc溶解体系具有更强的溶解性能;凝固值随凝固浴中凝固剂H_2O的含量的增加不断减小,而临界浓度几乎没有变化;随着凝固浴温度的增加,凝固值增大,临界浓度减小;凝固值随凝固浴中离子浓度的升高而增大,但临界质量分数则不断降低。另外,间位芳纶溶液的扩散系数随着凝固浴中H_2O的含量的减少不断减小,随着芳纶浓度的增加不断减小。     

Rheological Behaviors of Polyacrylonitrile/1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Chloride Concentrated Solutions

One of the room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) was chosen to prepare the concentrated solutions of Polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The rheological behaviors of the solutions were measured with rotational rheometry under different conditions, including temperatures, concentration, and molecular weight of PAN. The solutions exhibited shear-thinning behaviors, similar to that of PAN/DMF solutions. The viscosities decreased with the increasing of shear rates. However, the viscosity decreased sharply at high shear rates when the concentration was up to 16wt%. The dependence of the viscosity on temperature was analyzed through the determination of the apparent activation energy. Unusually, the viscosity of solutions of higher concentration is lower than that of lower concentration. Similarly, the viscosity of low molecular weight PAN was higher than high molecular weight PAN at high shear rates. The dynamic rheological measurement indicates the loss modulus is much higher than storage modulus. The trend of complex viscosity is similar with the result of static rheological measurement. The interaction between PAN and ionic liquid [BMIM]Cl was discussed.     

Polyamide/polyacrylonitrile thin film composites as forward osmosis membranes

Thin film composites (TFCs) as forward osmosis (FO) membranes for seawater desalination application were prepared. For this purpose, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as a moderately hydrophilic polymer was used to fabricate support membranes via nonsolvent‐induced phase inversion. A selective thin polyamide (PA) film was then formed on the top of PAN membranes via interfacial polymerization reaction of m‐phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The effects of PAN solution concentration, solvent mixture, and coagulation bath temperature on the morphology, water permeability, and FO performance of the membranes and composites were studied. Support membranes based on low PAN concentrations (7 wt %), NMP as solvent and low coagulation bath temperature (0 °C) demonstrated lower thickness, thinner skin layer, more porosity, and higher water permeability. Meanwhile, decreasing the PAN solution concentration lead to higher water permeance and flux and lower reverse salt flux, structural parameter, and tortuosity for the final TFCs. Composites made in N,N‐dimethylformamide presented lower permeance and flux for water and salt and higher salt rejection, structural parameter, and tortuosity. FO assay of the composites showed lower water permeance values in saline medium comparing to pure water. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44130.     

Study on the Coagulation Mechanism of Wet-Spinning PAN Fibers

The mechanism of coagulation process of polyarylonitrile (PAN) wet-spinning was studied based on the numerical analysis of the coagulation of viscous polymer solution by diffusional interchange with a bath. Experiments were performed in order to determine the diffusion coefficient of solvent and non-solvent. The numerical solutions of Fick’s second law equations for diffusion were obtained by using the MOL method. The microstructure of nascent fibers is investigated by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Electron Probe Microanalyser (EPMA). It is found that the speed of outflow solvent is more rapid than that of influent non-solvent. The speed of concentration change of solvent and non-solvent is rapid in outside layers of filament (0.2R) and slow in inner layers. The solvent concentration is keeping a high value at the center of filament. TEM and EPMA show that the microstructure is a typical layered structure. The thickness of dense skin is about 0.2R. The core region of fiber is very loose.     

Ionic liquid mediated surface micropatterning of polymer blends

A polymer of intrinsic porosity (i.e., PIM‐1) has been blended with different ionic liquids (ILs) in order to evaluate the effect of the ILs on the microstructure of the polymer blend. [C₈MIM][Cl], [BMIM][DCa], [BMPyr][DCa], and [BMIM][Tf₂N] have been selected and were mixed with PIM‐1. Polymer blends containing up to 80 wt % of ILs were prepared by a casting method with chloroform as solvent. SEM images show that during the film formation a structuring of the surface appears depending on the nature and the concentration of ILs, with appearance of well‐defined microstructure in the case of [BMIM][Tf₂N] and [BMIM][DCa]. In the case of [BMIM][Tf₂N]/PIM‐1 film, the lower IL concentration induces the denser film with small micropatterns onto the surface. AFM analysis indicates that the ILs are well dispersed on the surface. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements show that a gradient of IL concentration is observed across the film thickness. It is demonstrated that ILs are versatile co‐solvents for inducing controlled micropatterns in polymer membrane surfaces. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46109.     

Effect of the solvent type on the formation and physical properties of polyacrylonitrile fibers via a solvent‐free coagulation bath

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers were fabricated via a dry‐jet wet‐spinning technique, and a solvent‐free coagulation bath system was adopted. The effects of different types of dope solvent on the formation and physical properties of the PAN fibers were investigated. Dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were selected as the solvents and were added to a spinning solution consisting of 18 wt % PAN. The PAN fibers were examined with field emission scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The field emission scanning electron micrographs revealed that the PAN fibers with the DMSO solvent exhibited a more circular shape and a smoother skin. The PAN fibers with the DMSO solvent had their glass‐transition temperature (T_g) at 121°C. This study indicated that the different types of dope solvent used in the dope preparation did not affect T_g of the PAN fibers because of the solvent‐free coagulation bath system; however, they significantly affected the physical formation of the PAN fibers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

A new process for dissolution of cellulose in ionic liquids

A new dissolving process (two‐step dissolving process), that is, cellulose was first swelled to the maximum in aqueous 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) solution, and then dissolved by stirring under vacuum to remove excessive water, was developed to prepare the cellulose/[BMIM]Cl spinning dope with high quality. The results showed that the initial water contents in [BMIM]Cl have great influence on the swelling and dissolution of cellulose, and the suitable swelling range of aqueous [BMIM]Cl solution, in which cellulose can be swollen but not dissolved, was 2–5% water content. In this range, the higher water content in aqueous [BMIM]Cl solution, the more swelling time would be taken for cellulose to reach the maximal swelling ratio. Based on these results, cellulose/[BMIM]Cl spinning dopes were prepared by using two‐step dissolving process. In the range of our experiments, cellulose spinning dopes prepared by the two‐step dissolving process had better properties, such as fewer particles, lower apparent viscosity, and higher uniformity, compared with the direct dissolving process. By using this new dissolving process, the spinning performance of cellulose/[BMIM]Cl dopes was improved, and the mechanical properties of regenerated cellulose fibers were better than those prepared by the direct dissolving process. Therefore, it is a good way to prepare cellulose/[BMIM]Cl spinning dopes by using the new dissolving process. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Carbon fibers derived from wet‐spinning of equi‐component lignin/polyacrylonitrile blends

Equi‐component blends of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and lignin, i.e., with a lignin content as large as 50 wt %, were successfully used as precursors to produce carbon fibers. Rheological measurements demonstrated that increasing lignin content in spinning solution reduced shear viscosity and normal stress, indicating a decrease of viscoelastic behavior. This was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared results that show no discernable chemical reaction or crosslinking between PAN and lignin in the solution. However, the resulting carbon fibers display a large I_D/I_G ratio (by Raman spectroscopy) indicating a larger disordered as compared to that from pure PAN. The macro‐voids in the lignin/PAN blend fibers typically generated during wet‐spinning were eliminated by adding lignin in the coagulant bath to counter‐balance the out‐diffusion of lignin. Carbon fibers resulting from lignin/PAN blends with 50 wt % lignin content displayed a tensile strength and modulus of 1.2 ± 0.1 and 130 ± 3 GPa, respectively, establishing that the equi‐component wet‐spun L/P‐based carbon fibers possessed tensile strength and modulus higher than 1 and 100 GPa. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45903.     

Diffusion coefficient of DMF in acrylic fiber formation

A H₂O/dimethyl formamide (DMF) mixture was used as the coagulation bath of wet‐spun process for acrylic fibers. Diffusion coefficient of DMF in the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/acrylamide copolymers was determined. It has been found that diffusion coefficient of DMF outflow of the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/acrylamide copolymers synthesized by solution polymerization is highest compared with those of acrylonitrile/acrylamide copolymers synthesized by H₂O/DMF mixture suspension polymerization and aqueous suspension polymerization. With an increase of copolymer concentration in the dope, diffusion coefficient of DMF decreases continuously. Diffusion coefficient of DMF increases along with the bath temperature, but the changes in diffusion coefficient values are less prominent as temperature goes beyond 55°C. When DMF concentration in the coagulation bath was 50%, the value of the diffusion coefficient of DMF was minimal. Diffusion coefficient of DMF increases along with jet stretch minus ratio increase. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3616–3619, 2006     

Diffusion coefficient of DMSO in polyacrylonitrile fiber formation

A H₂O/dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) mixture was used as the coagulation bath for the wet‐spun process of acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers fibers. Diffusion coefficient of DMSO in the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers was determined. It has been found that diffusion coefficient of DMSO outflow of the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers synthesized by the solution polymerization is highest compared with those of acrylonitrile/ammonium itaconate copolymers synthesized by H₂O/DMSO mixture suspension polymerization and the aqueous suspension polymerization. With an increase of copolymer concentration in the dope, diffusion coefficient of DMSO decreases continuously. Diffusion coefficient of DMSO increases along with the bath temperature, but the changes of diffusion coefficient values are less prominent as temperature goes beyond 60°C. When DMSO concentration in the coagulation bath was 55 wt %, the value of the diffusion coefficient of DMSO was minimal. Diffusion coefficient of H₂O increases with the jet stretch minus ratio increasing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 4447–4451, 2006     

Determination of the Diffusion Coefficient of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O in Polyacrylonitrile Fiber Formation

An H₂O/dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) mixture was used as the coagulation bath of a wet-spun process. The diffusion coefficient of H₂O in the protofibers prepared by acrylonitrile homopolymers was determined. It was found that the diffusion coefficient of H₂O in the protofibers prepared by homopolymers synthesized by solution polymerization was highest compared with those of homopolymers synthesized by H₂O/DMSO mixture suspension polymerization and aqueous suspension polymerization. With an increase of polyacrylonitrile concentration in the dope, the diffusion coefficient of H₂O decreased continuously. The diffusion coefficient of H₂O increased along with the bath temperature, but the changes of diffusion coefficient values were less prominent as the temperature went beyond 60^○C. When the DMSO concentration in the coagulation bath was 55%, the value of the diffusion coefficient of H₂O was minimal. The diffusion coefficient of H₂O increased with increasing jet stretch minus ratio. When the protofiber radius was increased, there was a corresponding increase of the diffusion coefficient of H₂O.     

Crystallographic Investigation of Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Effects on Enzyme Structure

We present the first crystallographic insight into the interactions of an ionic liquid (IL) with an enzyme, which has widespread implications for stabilizing enzymes in IL media for biocatalysis. Structures of Bacillus subtilis lipase A (lipA) and an IL‐stable variant (QM‐lipA) were obtained in the presence of increasing concentrations of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM][Cl]). These studies revealed that the [BMIM] cation interacts with surface residues through hydrophobic and cation–π interactions. Of specific interest was the disruption of internal stacking interactions of aromatic side chains by [BMIM], which provides structural evidence for the mechanism of enzyme denaturation by ILs. The interaction of [BMIM] and Cl ions with lipA was reduced by the stabilizing mutations Y49E and G158E in QM‐lipA. Ultimately, these findings present the molecular basis for stabilizing enzymes from IL‐induced inactivation, as well as the selection of ILs that are less denaturing.     

Effects of different coagulation conditions on polyacrylonitrile fibers wet spun in a system of dimethylsulphoxide and water

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursors were prepared by the wet spinning way. The effects of the coagulation conditions, such as coagulation temperature, coagulation ratio, and coagulation concentration, are discussed in detail. While keeping the coagulation bath concentration constant, as the coagulation bath temperature increased, the cross section deviated less from a circular form, and the as‐spun fiber diameter decreased. Measurement to the rate of the boundary movement has been calculated depending on the coagulation rate. While keeping the coagulation bath temperature constant, high coagulation bath concentration can cause more coagulant to diffuse into the solution to the polymer precipitated consequently, which led to a faster coagulation rate. The as‐spun fiber from high coagulation concentration was compacted than those from low concentration. The character of the formed structure reflected the system mobility and capability to crystallize. Improvement in fiber density in the as‐spun fiber resulted in improvements in the tensile strength of the as‐spun fiber. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3723–3729, 2007