Cellulose fiber

History and Structure

• Cellulose was discovered in 1838 by Anselme Payen.
• Cellulose was used to produce the first successful thermoplastic polymer, celluloid, in 1870.
• Rayon production from cellulose began in the 1890s.
• Cellophane was invented in 1912.
• Acetate, a cellulosic product, was invented by Arthur D. Little in 1893.
• Cellulose is a polymer made of repeating glucose molecules.
• A cellulose molecule can be several hundred to over 10,000 glucose units long.
• Cellulose is a straight chain polymer, unlike starch which is coiled.
• Cellulose cannot be broken down into glucose subunits by animal enzymes.
• Cellulose chains are linked by hydrogen bonds.

Types of Cellulose Fibers

• Natural cellulose fibers are minimally processed from plant matter.
• Cotton fibers and linen fibers are examples of natural cellulose fibers.
• Natural fibers have strong hydrogen bonding and exhibit little interaction with water.
• Natural fibers like cotton and wood are insoluble in water.
• Cellulose does not bind to iodine to form a colored product.
• Manufactured cellulose fibers come from plants processed into a pulp.
• Rayon or viscose is a common manufactured cellulose fiber.
• Manufactured cellulose fibers are extruded similar to synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon.
• Wood pulp can be used to make rayon.
• Manufactured cellulose fibers have similar properties to natural cellulose fibers.

Chemical Composition and Mechanical Properties

• Natural fibers are composed of microfibrils of cellulose in a matrix of hemicellulose and lignin.
• The mechanical properties of natural fibers are determined by their structure and chemical composition.
• Common constituents of natural fibers include cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, and ash.
• The chemical composition of natural fibers varies depending on the type of fiber.
• Natural fibers have stiffness and strength due to hydrogen bonding between cellulose chains.
• The major constituents of natural fibers are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, and ash.
• The percentage of each component varies for each type of fiber.
• Hemicellulose is responsible for moisture absorption and degradation.
• Lignin ensures thermal stability but is responsible for UV degradation.
• Mechanical properties of cellulose fibers can be compared to other commonly used fibers like glass fiber and aramid fiber.
• Properties like density, elongation, tensile strength, and Young's modulus vary for different cellulose fibers.
• Cotton, jute, flax, hemp, and ramie are examples of cellulose fibers with different mechanical properties.
• Coir and softwood kraft are other examples of cellulose fibers with specific mechanical properties.

Surface and Interfacial Properties

• Hydrophilicity, roughness, and surface charge determine the interaction of cellulose fibers with water.
• The zeta potential of cellulose fibers correlates with their water uptake capability.
• Waste fibers can be used as reinforcement in composite materials.
• Composite materials made with cellulose fibers and polymers are stronger than the fiber alone.
• Different polymer matrices can be mixed with cellulose fibers to create fiber-reinforced materials.

Applications and Environmental Impact

• Regenerated cellulose fibers are used in the textile industry, such as rayon, modal, and Lyocell.
• Cellulose fibers can be used as filter aids to improve filtration performance.
• Cellulose fibers have advantages such as low density, low cost, recyclability, and biodegradability.
• They can be used as a substitute for glass fibers in composite materials.
• Cellulose fibers contribute to reducing environmental impact in various industries.
• Sustainable practices in the production and use of cellulose fibers can contribute to environmental conservation.

Cellulose fiber Data Sources