Effect of hydrogen bond formation on dynamic mechanical properties of amorphous cellulose

The temperature dependence of the dynamic modulus (E′) and the mechanical loss tangent (tanδ) of amorphous cellulose prepared from cellulose triacetate by saponification was measured and compared with that of cellophane, recrystallized cellulose obtained by immersing amorphous cellulose in water, and cellulose triacetate. The E′ of amorphous cellulose decreased initially with increasing temperature and then began to increase at about 70°C with a maximum at 80°C, decreasing again at about 100°C. Another decrease in E′ was observed at 220°C accompanied by a discontinuity at 155°C. In the tan δ-versus-temperature curve, a medium peak at 60°C a shoulder peak at 146°C, and a broad peak at 200°C were observed. It was found that the transition at about 60°C was related to hydrogen bond formation by free OH groups. The transition at about 150°C was attributed to a recrystallization process by heating, and the relaxation at 200°C, to the glass transition of the polymer. The decrement in E′ observed at about 100°C was attributed to the cooperative motion of an individual pyranose ring in amorphous cellulose, juding from the E′ and tan δ assignment of other cellulose materials. The change in E′ was also measured isothermally as a function of time in the temperature range between 40°C and 80°C, where a maximum in tan δ and an increment in E′ were observed as the temperature dependence of the dynamic viscoelasticity. The change in E′ with elapsed time was analyzed kinetically, and an activation energy of 2.6 kcal/mole was calculated. This value is the expected activation energy of hydrogen bond formation.