Green Composites from Natural Resources

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3

Processing Cellulose

for Cellulose Fiber and

Matrix Composites

Robert A. Shanks

3.1 INTRODUCTION

Cellulose is abundant as a structural component of plants with properties based on a

regular stereochemical structure that leads to strong intra- and intermolecular inter-

actions and packing into crystalline arrays that build into increasing levels of supra-

molecular structures. Cellulose is a remarkable material from its primary chemical

bonding through each structural level to realization of the resultant mechanical prop-

erties. Cellulose poses problems for the polymer scientist in that it cannot be melted,

it is insoluble in almost all liquids, ...