Effect of low molecular weight additives on mechanical properties of cellulose films

Cellulose have strong inter- and intra-molecular interactions due to hydrogen bonds, which gives its films very stiff and fragile properties. In order to obtain more softened films, we investigated effect of low molecular weight additives such as glucose, cellobiose and salts on mechanical properties of cellulose films. Cellulose films containing about 15wt% of glucose or cellobiose can be obtained by solvent exchange method from DMAc/LiCl solutions of cellulose and the low molecular weight additives. The additive-contained films have lower initial modulus and higher breaking elongational strain than the original cellulose film without additives.