Several approaches to the modification of cellulose fibres are described, namely: (i) physical treatments such as corona or plasma treatments under different atmospheres; (ii) grafting with hydrophobic molecules using well-known sizing compounds; (iii) grafting with bi-functional molecules, leaving one of the functions available for further exploitation; and (iv) grafting with organometallic compounds. The modified surfaces were characterized by elemental analysis, contact angle measurements, inverse gas chromatography, X-ray photoelectron and infrared spectroscopy, wettability, etc. These different tools provided clear-cut evidence of the occurrence of chemical reactions between the grafting agent used and the hydroxy functions of the cellulose surface, as well as of the existence of covalent bonding in the ensuing composite materials between the matrix and the fibres through the use of doubly reactive coupling agents.

The furan heterocycle is a dienic reagent particularly suitable for the Diels-Alder reaction and maleimides represent a typical family of complementary reagents because of their strong dienophilic character. This paper reviews critically the studies devoted to the exploitation of the Diels Alder reaction between those moieties to synthesise macromolecular materials possessing different structures and properties. The most relevant approaches in this field are (i) polycondensation reactions calling upon A-A and B-B monomers and (ii) reversible cross-linking of linear polymers bearing pendant furan or maleimide moieties, based on the temperature sensitivity of the Diels-Alder equilibrium.

Foram preparadas amostras de hidroxietil celulose (HEC) enxertada com poliéteres para aplicação como eletrólitos sólidos poliméricos. Amostras comerciais de HEC foram caracterizadas por ¹H e 13C RMN, FTIR e viscosimetria, visando a determinação dos respectivos graus de substituição molar (MS), grau de substituição (DS) e grau de polimerização (DP). Amostras comerciais de diaminas de poli(óxido de etileno) (POE) e poli(óxido de propileno) (POP) foram também caracterizadas antes de serem convertidas nos correspondentes diisocianatos. As redes foram obtidas através de reações de condensação das HEC com os diisocianatos e caracterizadas por FTIR, UV-Vis, difração de raios-X e análises térmicas, a fim de definir suas Tg.

Commercial samples of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, FTIR and viscosimetry, in order to obtain their average molar substitution (MS), average degree of substitution (DS) and average degree of polymerization (DP). Commercial samples of poly(ethylene oxide) diamines (POE) and poly(propylene oxide) diamines (POP) were also characterized before being converted into their corresponding diisocyanates. The networks were obtained by the condensation reaction of each HEC with the diisocyanates. The products were characterized by FTIR, UV-Vis, X-ray diffraction and also DSC to determine the glass transition temperatures.

Este estudo descreve uma série de reações envolvendo os grupos isocianatos (NCO) e os grupos hidroxílicos do acetato de celulose com grau de substituição (DS) igual a 2,4. As reações foram realizadas em meio homogêneo e utilizaram dois isocianatos estruturalmente diferentes: o 3-isopropenil-<img width=32 height=32 src="http://img/fbpe/po/v8n3/8303s5.gif">,<img width=32 height=32 src="http://img/fbpe/po/v8n3/8303s5.gif">'-dimetilbenzil isocianato (TMI) e o 2-isocianato-etil metacrilato (IEM). Um acompanhamento cinético das reações foi realizado por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho, onde acompanhou-se o desaparecimento da banda típica de isocianato a aproximadamente 2260 cm-1. Filmes de acetato de celulose modificados foram obtidos após as reações, sendo posteriormente caracterizados por análises de ângulos de contato, espectroscopia na região do infravermelho e ensaios de tração.

This investigation describes a series of homogeneous reactions involving the OH groups of cellulose acetate with a DS of 2.4 and two alkenyl isocyanates, viz. 3-isopropyl a,a-dimethylbenzyl isocyanate (TMI) and 2-isocyanato-ethyl methacrylate (IEM). The kinetics of these reactions were followed by FTIR spectroscopy by monitoring the decrease in intensity with time of the band around 2260 cm-1. The product of these condensations were isolated as thin films which were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, surface hydrophilic-hydrophobic evaluation through contact angle measurements and tensile strength.