Cellulose-based masterbatch with networked structure, application thereof and method for preparing the same

• US 8,394,305 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taiwan Textile Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Taiwan Textile Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Su-Chen, Lin, Sheng-Jen, Liang, Nai-Yun, Liu, Chao-Huei, Lin, Wei-Peng
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMER, MARC S
• Application Number:
  US13/658,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 139 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 264/172.17
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 5/053 Polyhydroxylic alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/10 Esters of organic acids , i.e. acylates
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/12 Cellulose acetate
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/14 Mixed esters, e.g. cellulose acetate-butyrate
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/14 Macromolecular compounds according to C08L59/00 - C08L87/00; Derivatives thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a thermoplastic cellulosic composition for preparing a cellulose-based masterbatch and/or a cellulose-based fiber with a networked structure. In one example, the thermoplastic cellulosic composition includes an esterified cellulose present in a range of about 80 wt % to about 95 wt %, polyethylene glycol present in a range of about 4.5 wt % to about 12 wt %, a tri-functional cross-linking agent present in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt %, an initiator present in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 0.15 wt %, and a dispersing agent present in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt %.

Claims

1. A thermoplastic cellulosic composition, comprising:

an esterified cellulose in a range of about 80 wt % to about 95 wt %;

polyethylene glycol in a range of about 4.5 wt % to about 12 wt %;

a tri-functional cross-linking agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt %;

an initiator in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 0.15 wt %; and

a dispersing agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt %.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the esterified cellulose is cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate pentanoate, cellulose propionate n-butyrate, cellulose acetate laurate, cellulose acetate stearate or mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the esterified cellulose is cellulose acetate propionate having an esterification ratio of at least about 50%.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyethylene glycol has a molecular weight of about 600-10,000 Da.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the tri-functional cross-linking agent is triallyl amine, triallyl trimesate (TAM), triallyl cyanurate (TAC), triallyl isocynaurate (TAIC), triallyl-ammoniumcyanurate or triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (TAT).

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the initiator is potassium persulfate, azobisisobutyronitrile, potassium peroxide, or benzyl dimethyl ketal.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the dispersing agent is selected from a group consisting of C_15-38 alkanes, C_15-38 esters, C_15-38 organic acids, and a mixture thereof.

8. A method for preparing a cellulose-based fiber with a networked structure, comprising:

preparing a cellulose-based masterbatch; and

melt spinning the cellulose-based masterbatch at a spinning temperature of about 220-280°

C. and a spinning speed of about 500-3000 m/min,

wherein the cellulose-based masterbatch comprises;

an esterified cellulose in a range of about 80 wt % to about 95 wt %;

polyethylene glycol in a range of about 4.5 wt % to about 12 wt %;

a tri-functional cross-linking agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt %;

an initiator in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 0.15 wt %; and

a dispersing agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt %, wherein each of the tri-functional cross-linking agent has three functional groups, and at least part of the tri-functional cross-linking agent has its three functional groups reacted with the molecular chain of the esterified cellulose molecule or the polyethylene glycol molecule, thereby forming the networked structure.

9. A cellulose-based fiber with a networked structure which is prepared from a masterbatch comprising:

an esterified cellulose in a range of about 80 wt % to about 95 wt %;

polyethylene glycol in a range of about 4.5 wt % to about 12 wt %;

a tri-functional cross-linking agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 3 wt %;

an initiator in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 0.15 wt %; and

a dispersing agent in a range of about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt %, wherein each of the tri-functional cross-linking agent has three functional groups, and at least part of the tri-functional cross-linking agent has its three functional groups reacted with the molecular chain of the esterified cellulose molecule or the polyethylene glycol molecule, thereby forming the networked structure.

10. The cellulose-based fiber of claim 9, wherein the cellulose-based fiber has a breaking tenacity no less than about 0.7-1.4 gf/den.