Chapter 10
Development of New Cellulosic Fibers
and Composites Using Ionic Liquid
Technology
Frank Hermanutz, Marc Philip Vocht and Michael R. Buchmeiser
Abstract One of the most important applications of ionic liquids (ILs) is their use
as a solvent for natural polymers. In particular, solutions of cellulose, chitosan, and
chitin in ILs are used for the production of fibers, coatings, composites, and new
materials. The initiation of this new field of research was triggered by the publication of Swatloski et al., which reported in 2002 for the first time the solubility of
cellulose in ILs. Numerous papers have been devoted to the search for new solvents
for cellulose and for scientific and industrial applications. Depending on the application of the IL, it is necessary to compromise between the ecological (toxicity) and
the economic parameters (cost of the IL). This chapter discusses the scope of this
approach and the limits in the practical application of ILs for the dissolution of cellulose, a natural polymer. The rational choice of ILs for use in particular processes,
the features of dissolution methods for natural polymers (including cellulose, chitin,
and fibroin), and the preparation of blends from the solutions of polymers with ILs
are discussed.
Keywords Biopolymers · Cellulosic blend fibers · All-cellulose composites ·
Recycling · Super-microfibers
10.1 Introduction
Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer and consists of a linear chain of β(1 → 4) linked D-glucose repeat units [1]. Cellulose has many attractive physical properties, such as thermal and chemical stability, biocompatibility, and
biodegradability [2]. The intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between the individual polysaccharide chains result in a semi-crystalline
F. Hermanutz (B) · M. P. Vocht · M. R. Buchmeiser
German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF), Körschtalstr. 26,
73770 Denkendorf, Germany
e-mail: Frank.Hermanutz@ditf.de
M. R. Buchmeiser
Institute of Polymer Chemistry (IPOC), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569
Stuttgart, Germany
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_10
227
Development of New Cellulosic Fibers
and Composites Using Ionic Liquid
Technology
Frank Hermanutz, Marc Philip Vocht and Michael R. Buchmeiser
Abstract One of the most important applications of ionic liquids (ILs) is their use
as a solvent for natural polymers. In particular, solutions of cellulose, chitosan, and
chitin in ILs are used for the production of fibers, coatings, composites, and new
materials. The initiation of this new field of research was triggered by the publication of Swatloski et al., which reported in 2002 for the first time the solubility of
cellulose in ILs. Numerous papers have been devoted to the search for new solvents
for cellulose and for scientific and industrial applications. Depending on the application of the IL, it is necessary to compromise between the ecological (toxicity) and
the economic parameters (cost of the IL). This chapter discusses the scope of this
approach and the limits in the practical application of ILs for the dissolution of cellulose, a natural polymer. The rational choice of ILs for use in particular processes,
the features of dissolution methods for natural polymers (including cellulose, chitin,
and fibroin), and the preparation of blends from the solutions of polymers with ILs
are discussed.
Keywords Biopolymers · Cellulosic blend fibers · All-cellulose composites ·
Recycling · Super-microfibers
10.1 Introduction
Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer and consists of a linear chain of β(1 → 4) linked D-glucose repeat units [1]. Cellulose has many attractive physical properties, such as thermal and chemical stability, biocompatibility, and
biodegradability [2]. The intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions between the individual polysaccharide chains result in a semi-crystalline
F. Hermanutz (B) · M. P. Vocht · M. R. Buchmeiser
German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF), Körschtalstr. 26,
73770 Denkendorf, Germany
e-mail: Frank.Hermanutz@ditf.de
M. R. Buchmeiser
Institute of Polymer Chemistry (IPOC), University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, 70569
Stuttgart, Germany
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
M. B. Shiflett (ed.), Commercial Applications of Ionic Liquids, Green Chemistry
and Sustainable Technology, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35245-5_10
227