Processability of Composite Materials Containing Chitosan
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PROCESSABILITY OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS CONTAINING CHITOSAN
G. GRAHAM ALLAN AND MUTOMBO MUVUNDAMINA', University of Washington, Department of Chemical Engineering and College of Forest Resources, Seattle, WA98195.
ABSTRACT The processability of polypropylene fibers into composite materials was characterized by dynamic wettability measurements. Single fibers were immersed in a series of aqueous acidic solutions of chitosan. Variations in the wetting force, observed for progressive and successive immersions of the fibers in the liquid, indicated adsorption of species out of the solution or the presence of foreign materials on the surface of the solid. The value of the advancing wetting force was used to assess the coating of the fibers by the liquid. Data on the surface composition of the fibers were obtained by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis. The conditions of preparation of the composite materials containing chitosan were determined from the correlation of the observations on wettability, surface composition and scanning electron microscopy. INTRODUCTION A worldwide continuing effort aimed at the enhanced utilization of shellfish waste as a source of chitin and chitosan is being maintained. Each group of scientists has evolved its own area of expertise and made its own special contribution to the overall solution of the shellfish waste problem. Among the various possibilities of contributing to the solution of the waste disposal problem one of the most attractive has been to focus on high value uses. The reason for this is that applications where high-quality or priced chitosan is recommended, but only a relatively small amount of material is needed, may transform a small physical achievement into a large financial success. This can be capable of generating the cash flow required to sustain a fledgling company that manufactures chitosan products. An example of this philosophy is the development of the wound-healing and disposable chitosan-based contact lens [1]. Along the same lines, other structures containing chitosan may be prepared. Among the most interesting are bicomponent fibers of the sheath-core type. Bicomponent structures can be prepared by coating commercially available fibers with a film of chitosan [2-4]. The current work assesses the processability of polypropylene into bicomponent fibers by dynamic wettability measurements. EXPERIMENTAL Materials Two types of polypropylene materials were utilized in the investigation: staple fibers (9 denier, 144 mm long; and 3 denier, 36 mm in length) and 'Current address: University of Minnesota, Paper Science and Engineering, Department of Forest Products, Saint Paul, MN55108. Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 218. @1991 Materials Research Society
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filaments recovered from nonwovens (needlepunched fabrics made with 5 denier staple fibers of 10 mm in length; and thermally bonded fabrics made with 2 denier staple fibers of 36 mm long). The preparation of specimens of fibers reclaimed from nonwovens is described below. Segments of fibers that were l
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