Electrospinning of ultrafine cellulose fibers and fabrication of poly(butylene succinate) biocomposites reinforced by them

In this study, electrospinning conditions for ultrafine cellulose fibers was systematically studied and poly(butylene succinate) biocomposites reinforced by the ultrafine cellulose fibers (cellulose/PBS biocomposite) were fabricated. The ultrafine cellulose fibers were electrospun from cellulose (DP = 700) solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide hydrate (85/15 w/w) at 100°C. The optimal electrospinning concentration of the cellulose solutions was determined to be 7 wt % and the average diameter of the resulting cellulose fibers was 560 nm. The cellulose I structure of the native cellulose was converted to the cellulose II structure after electrospinning. The ultrafine cellulose fibers showed a reinforcing effect in the cellulose/PBS biocomposite, suggesting that they have potential applications as reinforcement fibers for biocomposites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008