CELLULOSE-POLYAMIDE 66 BLENDS .1. PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION

Each homopolymer, cellulose and polyamide 66 (PA66), was separately di ssolved in a mixture of N-methyl morpholine N-oxide and phenol (80/20 w/w). Then, the two solutions were mixed together. This step leads to the crystallization of PA66 in small aggregates (about 1 mum) regularl y dispersed in the cellulose solution. It appeared that this morpholog y remains independent of further processing such as spinning or castin g. Finally, fibers or films were precipitated in methanol. The entire preparation technique used here results mainly in two-phase systems in which PA66 domains are embedded in an amorphous cellulose matrix. The specimens obtained were at first characterized by differential scanni ng calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and wide angle x-ray sca ttering. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.