Synthesis and mechanical properties of nitrohydroxyethycellulose

In order to overcome the poor mechanical properties of NC at low temperature, hydroxyethylcellulose(HEC) was synthesized, and then HEC was nitrified in mix-solvent HNO₃/CH₂Cl₂ to obtain nitrohydroxyethylcellulose(NHEC). In the paper, we discussed the nitrogen content of NHEC synthesized in mix-solvent of various ratios, the glass transition temperature of NHEC tested by dynamic mechanical analysis and the tensile test of NHEC. The experimental results indicated that high nitrogen content can be obtained only at appropriate HNO₃ concentration ranges, deficit HNO₃ leads to insufficient nitrification, surplus HNO₃ induces gel. When compared with known NC, NHEC has good flexibility and lower glass transition temperature. With the degree of etherification increasing, the glass transition temperature reduced. Tensile test showed NHEC was tough and strong, but not brittle as NC when subjected to low temperature.