Physics of cellulose xanthate dissolution in sodium hydroxide-water mixtures: a rheo-optical study

Nicolas Le Moigne (1) , Patrick Navard (1)

1 CEMEF - Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux

The way cellulose xanthate (viscose) fibres dissolve in sodium hydroxide water mixtures is studied in situ, under flow, using a counter rotating optical rheometer. When a bunch of viscose fibres is placed in a solvent, a visco-elastic shell is formed, slowing down the diffusion of the solvent to non-dissolved fibres. It forms a highly concentrated, visco-elastic phase that disperses slowly through a pulling mechanism sucking this visco-elastic solution into the solvent. Due to this mechanism, dispersion and distribution of cellulose xanthate into the solvent is very slow.

Mots clés: sodium; viscose; cellulose xanthate; dissolution

Domaines: Matériaux

Nicolas Le Moigne, Patrick Navard. Physics of cellulose xanthate dissolution in sodium hydroxide-water mixtures: a rheo-optical study. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology, 2010, 44 (7-8), pp.Pages 217-221. ⟨hal-00522080⟩