All-cellulose and all-wood composites by partial dissolution of cotton fabric and wood in ionic liquid

After cotton fabric (CF) and hinoki lumber (HL) were dipped in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCI) at 100 degrees C, the BMIMCI-impregnated CF and HL were hot-pressed to give CF-BMIMCI and HL-BMIMCI composites, respectively. The BMIMCI contained in the composites was removed by Soxhlet extraction, and subsequently annealed to produce all-cellulose and all-wood composites (CF-A and HL-A). The SEM analyses revealed that cellulose fibers combined together for CF-A and the surface of HL-A became smooth, respectively. The XRD measurements indicated that the crystallinity index of cellulose component decreased by the hot press, increased by the extraction, and further increased by the annealing for both the composites. The tensile modulus of CF-A increased with increasing pressure of hot-press. Although tensile strength of HL-A was a little lower than that of original HL, tensile modulus of the former was much higher than that of the latter. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.