Functional fibers from regenerated wood pulp cellulose and a natural‐based phytate with enhanced flame retardancy properties

Abstract

The manufacture of sustainable functional fibers with low environmental footprint and superior properties is a pressing research issue under the auspices of more sustainable industrial textile processes. In the present study, regenerated cellulose fibers (CellReg) with flame retardancy properties are manufactured by functionalizing regenerated wood pulp fibers (obtained through the dissolution of paper‐grade pulp in an ionic liquid followed by regeneration in water) with a natural derived phosphorus compound, namely phytic acid ammonium (PAA). The pale‐yellow modified fibers present a phosphorus content up to 1.80% and a uniform and smooth surface morphology. Furthermore, the functional cellulose fibers exhibit moderate antioxidant activity (ca. 18.4% of maximum radical scavenging), water contact angles below 92°, as well as good thermal‐oxidative stability up to 200°C. The flame‐retardant performance of the CellReg/PAA fibers was investigated by the vertical burning test, and as anticipated, the results show a higher flame retardancy with the increasing content of phosphorus, meaning that the fibers ceased to burn before flaming or glowing, even after several flame applications. The accomplished properties validate the potential of these functional fibers of regenerated wood pulp cellulose and PAA for application as textile fibers with flame retardancy properties.

Flexible monolayer films of poly(lactic acid)/gallic acid for active food packaging: Preparation, characterization, and bioactive properties

“…The colorimetric coordinates (CIELab scale: L *, a *, b *) and ISO brightness (ISO 2470‐1) were measured with a Konica Minolta CM‐2300d portable sphere type spectrophotometer (Konica Minolta Sensing Europe BV, UK) using a white calibration tile surface 80,81 . The parameters of lightness, L * (black [0] to white [100]) and color coordinates, a * (green = − a * to red = + a *) and b * (blue = − b * to yellow = + b *) were measured using the Spectra Magic™ NX software.…”

“…The measurement of the static water contact angles was performed with a DataPhysics Instruments OCA20 equipment with a video camera and the SCA 20 3.16.21 software (DataPhysics Instruments, Filderstadt, Germany), using the sessile drop method 81 . The procedure consisted of placing the specimens (2 × 2 cm 2 ) in the equipment and depositing a 3 μL drop of ultrapure water on its surface using a micro‐syringe (Hamilton, model DS500/GT, 500 μL, needle diameter of 0.52 mm).…”