Cellophanes

As mentioned previously, cellophane, though a polymer formed by condensation reactions of glucose, is not a plastic, since it will not melt and cannot be formed by heat and pressure. It was, however, the first transparent packaging film, and as such had extensive use. Some thermoplastics derived from cellulose, the cellulosic plastics, are still used today, though not in large quantities. 

Cellophane and cellulosic plastics are derived from the cellulose in biomass materials, usually wood. The general reaction involved in forming cellulose is  

The first step in manufacture of cellulose is to treat the cellulose with caustic soda (NaOH) and allow it to oxidize until the degree of polymerization is down to 200 to 400. Treatment with CSj then yields sodium cellulose xanthate, which is dissolved in aqueous NaOH. This material, called viscose, is extruded through a small slit onto a roller immersed in a tank of weak sulfuric acid and sodium sulfate, which hydrolyzes the xanthate groups, regenerating the cellulose and yielding CSj and 

HjS as byproducts. After additional washing, bleaching, and other treatments, the water-swollen cellulose is dried, becoming a transparent film. 

Since cellophane cannot melt, it is not heat-sealable. The many hydroxyl groups that it contains make it sensitive to water. It will not dissolve, but its properties can change markedly on exposure to moisture. For both these reasons, cellophane used in packaging is generally coated. Common types of coatings include vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymers, polyolefins, and mixtures of cellulose nitrate, wax, and resin. It may also have plasticizers added to improve its flexibility. 

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The reagent is conveniently stored as a solution in isopropyl alcohol. The molten (or solid) alkoxide is weighed out after distillation into a glass-stoppered bottle or flask and is dissolved in sufficient dry isopropyl alcohol to give a one molar solution. This solution may be kept without appreciable deterioration provided the glass stopper is sealed with paraffin wax or cellophane tape. Crystals of aluminium isopropoxide separate on standing, but these may be redissolved by warming the mixture to 65-70°. 

The cellulose molecule contains three hydroxyl groups which can react and leave the chain backbone intact. These alcohol groups can be esterified with acetic anhydride to form cellulose acetate. This polymer is spun into the fiber acetate rayon. Similarly, the alcohol groups in cellulose react with CS2 in the presence of strong base to produce cellulose xanthates. When extruded into fibers, this material is called viscose rayon, and when extruded into sheets, cellophane. In both the acetate and xanthate formation, some chain degradation also occurs, so the resulting polymer chains are shorter than those in the starting cellulose. 

First, we consider the experimental aspects of osmometry. The semiperme-able membrane is the basis for an osmotic pressure experiment and is probably its most troublesome feature in practice. The membrane material must display the required selectivity in permeability-passing solvent and retaining solute-but a membrane that works for one system may not work for another. A wide variety of materials have been used as membranes, with cellophane, poly (vinyl alcohol), polyurethanes, and various animal membranes as typical examples. The membrane must be thin enough for the solvent to pass at a reasonable rate, yet sturdy enough to withstand the pressure difference which can be... 

Most of the polymer s characteristics stem from its molecular stmcture, which like POE, promotes solubiUty in a variety of solvents in addition to water. It exhibits Newtonian rheology and is mechanically stable relative to other thermoplastics. It also forms miscible blends with a variety of other polymers. The water solubiUty and hot meltable characteristics promote adhesion in a number of appHcations. PEOX has been observed to promote adhesion comparable with PVP and PVA on aluminum foil, cellophane, nylon, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(ethylene terephthalate), and in composite systems improved tensile strength and Izod impact properties have been noted. 

Cellulosics. Rayon and other cellulose products such as cellophane and cellulose ethers (qv) consume 1.9% of U.S. caustic soda demand. Because of competitive products, however, this market has been decreasing since 1965 and forecasted average annual growth through 1992 is less than 0.4% (6) (see Cotton). 

Cast films provide a high clarity, heat sealable film and are primarily used as an overwrap for boxes and other packaging. These films have a lower density than cellophane and provide a longer product shelf life. Properties of polypropylene films are given in Table 12. 

Some common flake-shaped LCMs consist of shredded cellophane and paper, mica (qv), rice hulls, cottonseed hulls, or laminated plastic. These materials He flat across the opening to be sealed or are wedged into an opening such as a fracture. Some are sufficiently strong to withstand considerable differential pressure, whereas others are weak and the seal may be broken easily. Weaker flake materials typically are used near the surface or in combination with fibrous or granular additives. 

Under atmospheric conditions, 3-aminophenol is the most stable of the three isomers. Both 2- and 4-aminophenol are unstable they darken on exposure to air and light and should be stored in brown glass containers, preferably in an atmosphere of nitrogen. The use of activated iron oxide in a separate cellophane bag inside the storage container (116), or the addition of staimous chloride (117), or sodium bisulfite (118) inhibits the discoloration of aminophenols. The salts, especially the hydrochlorides, are more resistant to oxidation and should be used where possible. 

Jptt Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 58,154,763 (Sept. 14,1983) (to Tokyo Cellophane Paper Co., Ltd.). 

Plastics and Other Synthetic Products. Sulfur is used in the production of a wide range of synthetics, including cellulose acetate, cellophane, rayon, viscose products, fibers, and textiles. These uses may account for 2% of sulfur demand in developed countries. Sulfur intermediates for these manufacturing processes are equally divided between carbon disulfide and sulfuric acid. 

The principal chemical iadustry based on wood is pulp and paper. In 1995, 114.5 x 10 metric tons of wood were converted iato - 60 x 10 metric tons of fiber products ranging from newsptint to pure cellulose ia the United States (1,76). Pure cellulose is the raw material for a number of products, eg, rayon, cellulose acetate film base, cellulose nitrate explosives, cellophane, celluloid, carboxymethylceUulose, and chemically modified ceUulosic material. 

Layered Structures. Whenever a barrier polymer lacks the necessary mechanical properties for an appHcation or the barrier would be adequate with only a small amount of the more expensive barrier polymer, a multilayer stmcture via coextmsion or lamination is appropriate. Whenever the barrier polymer is difficult to melt process or a particular traditional substrate such as paper or cellophane [9005-81-6] is necessary, a coating either from latex or a solvent is appropriate. A layered stmcture uses the barrier polymer most efficiently since permeation must occur through the barrier polymer and not around the barrier polymer. No short cuts are allowed for a permeant. The barrier properties of these stmctures are described by the permeance which is described in equation 16 where and L are the permeabiUties and thicknesses of the layers. 

Cellophane or its derivatives have been used as the basic separator for the silver—ziac cell siace the 1940s (65,66). Cellophane is hydrated by the caustic electrolyte and expands to approximately three times its dry thickness iaside the cell exerting a small internal pressure ia the cell. This pressure restrains the ziac anode active material within the plate itself and renders the ziac less available for dissolution duriag discharge. The cellophane, however, is also the principal limitation to cell life. Oxidation of the cellophane ia the cell environment degrades the separator and within a relatively short time short circuits may occur ia the cell. In addition, chemical combination of dissolved silver species ia the electrolyte may form a conductive path through the cellophane. 

Silver—Zinc Separators. The basic separator material is a regenerated cellulose (unplastici2ed cellophane) which acts as a semipermeable membrane aHowiag ionic conduction through the separator and preventing the migration of active materials from one electrode to the other. 

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