Structure and properties of cellulose fibers from 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate by dry-wet spinning with small gap

Cellulose fibers were prepared from cellulose /1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate( [EMIM]Ac) solution by dry-wet spinning with different small gaps and drawing speeds. Density gradient tubes,mercury porosimetry,wide angle X-ray diffraction( WAXD),birefringency,tensilefineness tester and wet friction were utilized to characterize the structure and mechanical properties of the cellulose fibers. The results showed that density gradient tubes and mercury porosimetry were accurate methods for testing the density and crystallinity of cellulose fibers. WAXD was suitable for relative comparison of crystallinity. The fibers displayed a dense structure. Under small gap condition,increasing gap was in favor of the relaxation of internal stress of spinning solution,properly increasing drawing speed was in favor of the orientation and crystallinity of fibers,which led to better mechanical properties of fibers.