Homogeneous preparation in DMAc/LiCl and characterization of long-chain cellulose esters

Long-Chain cellulose ester has many advantages for application. However, it is hard to be synthesized. In this study, cellulose was pretreated with the solution of 75% 1, 2-Ethylenediamine before dissolved in DMAc/LiCl. Then cellulose palmitate and cellulose stearate were prepared with long-chain fatty acids as esterifying agent under homogeneous conditions in presence of toluene-4-sulfonyl chloride. FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, X-ray diffraction and DSC were applied to characterize the product. The results indicated that the DS increases with reaction temperature and time. The crystallinity of the product deceases compared with cellulose. And the Tg of the product deceases compared with cellulose triacetate and cellulose acetate-butyrate. The introduction of long branched chain acting as internal plasticizer contributes good processability to the materials.