Mechanical properties of films made from dialcohol cellulose prepared by homogeneous periodate oxidation

2,3-Dialdehyde celluloses were prepared by homogeneous periodate oxidation in an aqueous solution of methylol cellulose. Since methylol cellulose stays dissolved in water for a certain time before decomposing gradually into regenerated cellulose, the oxidation reaction progressed homogeneously throughout the period. The resulting dialdehyde cellulose achieved an oxidation level of over 90 % in as little as 12 h. Reducing the dialdehyde celluloses with NaBH4 resulted in water-soluble dialcohol celluloses, which have an open-ring structure at the C2-C3 position. The dialcohol celluloses were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The T-g of the products decreased with increasing oxidation levels. The products might be processable, and unique tensile properties were obtained by cutting the C2-C3 bonds in the glucopyranose rings. The dialcohol celluloses prepared using a cast method yielded clear and transparent films which showed unique mechanical properties by tensile tests depending on the values of oxidation level.