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Enzymatically fibrillated cellulose pulp-based monofilaments spun from water; enhancement of mechanical properties and water stability

Cellulose volume 24, pages 871–887 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Water-based spinning dopes composed of enzymatically fibrillated pulp (EFP), poly(vinyl alcohol) and glutaraldehyde crosslinker were successfully spun into monofilaments. Specimens containing EFP concentrations of 50 and 60 wt% were obtained utilising a customised spinning system based on a syringe pump. Monofilaments exhibited high stiffness, good strength and low strain; maximum tensile values were obtained at a cellulose concentration of 60 wt%. Reduced graphene oxide was incorporated into the monofilaments as a lubricant, enhancing elongation while also providing a slight reinforcing effect. Mechanical behaviour was dictated by a synergy of competing interaction-types and mechanisms. Selected monofilaments were coated with cellulose acetate propionate, resulting in enhanced water strength and stability. The stability of the monofilaments was demonstrated in their ability to be tied into a knot, and to be used to prepare two- and three-dimensional structures.

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Acknowledgments

This work was conducted as part of the Design Driven Value Chains in the World of Cellulose (DWoC) project. The authors wish to thank Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation) for financial support. This work made use of Aalto University Bioeconomy and Aalto University Nanomicroscopy Centre (Aalto-NMC) facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polymer Technology, Department of Biotechnology and Chemical Technology, Aalto University School of Chemical Technology, P.O. Box 16100, 00076, Aalto, Finland

    Steven Spoljaric, Henni Auvinen & Jukka Seppälä

  2. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, 02044 VTT, Espoo, Finland

    Hannes Orelma & Jaakko Pere

Authors
  1. Steven Spoljaric
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  2. Henni Auvinen
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  3. Hannes Orelma
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  4. Jaakko Pere
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  5. Jukka Seppälä
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jukka Seppälä.

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Spoljaric, S., Auvinen, H., Orelma, H. et al. Enzymatically fibrillated cellulose pulp-based monofilaments spun from water; enhancement of mechanical properties and water stability. Cellulose 24, 871–887 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1133-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-1133-5

Keywords

  • Cellulose
  • Mechanical properties
  • Water stability
  • Poly(vinyl alcohol)
  • Filament