Structure and properties of regenerated cellulose fibers from different technology processes

The crystalline and microstructure of the regenerated cellulose fibers prepared from different solvents and technology processes were investigated by synchrotron wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). WAXD results indicated that the crystal orientation, crystallinity of Lyocell and IL-cell fibers were higher than those of Viscose and Newdal fibers. The size of micro-voids located in the cross-section of regenerated cellulose fibers was analyzed based on the results of SAXS. And the technology process had little effect on the radius of the micro-voids. The micro-voids in Viscose and Newdal fibers have longer length (L) and greater misorientation (B-Phi) than that in Lyocell and IL-cell fibers. This reveals that the average void volumes of Viscose and Newdal fibers were larger. Furthermore, the regenerated cellulose fibers from dry-jet-wet-spinning process exhibited completely a higher E-modulus, tenacity than the fibers spun by wet-spinning method did. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.