Preparation and rheological properties of cellulose/chitosan homogeneous solution in ionic liquid

Cellulose/chitosan homogeneous solutions were prepared in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM]Ac) ionic liquid. Steady and oscillatory dynamic rheological properties were studied with a Haake Mars-ΙΙΙ rotational rheometer. Rheological results show that cellulose/chitosan [EMIM]Ac solutions are a pseudoplastic liquid, and the viscosity of the solution decreases with increasing of chitosan content. The zero shear rate viscous activation energy of solution is about 52.10 to 62.50KJ/mol, calculated from the Cross and Arrhenius equation. The structural viscosity index of the solution is similar to that of cellulose/N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution, which indicates a potential spinnability. The dynamic rheological responses reveal that the Cox-Merz rule holds well with the solutions, and the crossover point of loss modulus and storage modulus shifts to a higher frequency range with increasing temperature.