Structure and performance of spinning solution prepared from liquefied wood

A new spinning solution was synthesized from liquefied wood in phenol by adding hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as a synthesis agent, and was easily spun into fibers by melt-spinning. Structure evolution of the spinning solution from liquefied wood (LWS) was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy. Results show the functional groups of LWS were changed from that of liquefied wood by adding HMTA during synthesizing the spinning solution. The effects of various synthesis conditions on the properties of the spun fibers are discussed. Spun fibers with a tensile strength of 90-129 MPa and modulus of elasticity of 8-24 GPa were obtained at a phenol/wood ratio of 6, synthesis agent content of 5%, synthesis temperature of 120 C, and temperature-rising time of 40 min. It was also found that thermal stability of LWS is better than that of liquefied wood, and that the spun fibers from LWS could be a precursor for carbon fibers.