A Comparative Approach to Sustainable Paper-based All-Cellulose Composite Production: NaOH/urea versus AlCl3/ZnCl2

Abstract

All-cellulose composites were prepared using a novel AlCl₃/ZnCl₂ molten salt solvent system, which allows for fabrication at room temperature. Unlike conventional NaOH/urea solvent systems, the proposed solvent demonstrates enhanced solubility and processing efficiency without requiring low-temperature conditions. The composites produced at room temperature, while they displayed enhanced wet strength properties, possessed a rather poor tensile strength and Young´s Modulus. When the composites were treated with the molten salt solvent system at a higher temperature, the composites displayed a marked performance improvement, suggesting that the solvent’s efficiency is temperature dependent. At higher temperatures comparable performance to NaOH/ urea produced all-cellulose composites was demonstrated. This dual advantage, room-temperature processing and improved properties at elevated temperatures, demonstrates the versatility of the AlCl₃/ZnCl₂ molten salt solvent system and the potential for energy-efficient, scalable production of sustainable all-cellulose composites.