Properties and Applications of Cellulose-Based Plastics

The property profile of cellulose-based plastics and cellulose products used in typical plastics applications covers a broad range where the intrinsic cellulose properties can be recognized to different degrees. So, hydrophilicity is a prominent feature for pure cellulose products, which is reduced as the number of ester substituents and their chain length is increased. Equilibrium moisture content of cellulose fibres, for example, is around 12% while the moisture regain of diacetate fibres is 6.5% and of triacetate fibres 3.2% [43]. In this respect, propionic and butyric esters are superior when fully substituted, but even mixed esters of the CAP and CAB types 

In the following, only a rough account of selected, primarily mechanical properties can be given and for more information the reader is referred to the literature cited. Applications resulting from the typical property profiles will be mentioned and some numbers will be given reflecting the respective production volumes. 

With the processes described in sections 3.4.1 and 3.4.2.3, fibres wifh excellenf fexfile properties can be produced. The high moisfure regain of fhe hydrophilic cellulose sfrucfure predestine these fibres for moisture regulation in textile structures either alone or in combination with synthetic fibres. 

As for viscose fibres, these are mostly produced as staple fibres for textile and nonwoven applications. In 2011, world production was 3.246 million tons [49] while filament yam for textile and technical applications reached 332 000 tons in 2011 [49] with a share of technical yarns of 56 000 tons. Technical viscose fibres, also called rayon or viscose rayon, are used mainly as carcass reinforcing fibres in fast-running and run-flat tyres. Lyocell fibres are produced only as staple and virtually exclusively by Lenzing AG, Austria, with a production capacity of 140 000 tons in 2011 [50]. 

Fibre type [cNAex] [MPa] [cNAex] IGPa] Elongation [%] Ref. 

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