Industrial Fiber-making: Lyocell and Viscose Processes

  • Fundamental chemistry of the Lyocell process: heterolytic and homolytic side reactions, by-product and chromophore formation, prevention of exothermic events and stabilization of Lyocell dopes and solutions
  • Physico-chemical processes during cellulose dissolution in NMMO
  • Fundamental chemistry of the viscose process: cellulose integrity, ripening, steeping, aging and xynthation, chromophore formation
  • Analysis of xanthate group distribution in viscoses
  • Gel permeation chromatography of viscoses

Key publications:

  1. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P. Progr. Polym. Sci. 2001, 26 (9), 1763-1837. The chemistry of side reactions and byproduct formation in the system NMMO / cellulose (Lyocell process).
  2. Rosenau, T.; Potthast, A.; Adorjan, I.; Hofinger, A.; Sixta, H.; Firgo, H.; Kosma, P. Cellulose 2002, 9 (3-4), 283-291. Cellulose solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) – Degradation processes and stabilizers.
  3. Rußler, A.; Lange, T.; Potthast, A.; Rosenau, T.; Berger-Nicoletti, E.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P. Macromol. Symp. 2005, 223(1), 189-200. A novel method for analysis of xanthate group distribution in viscoses.
  4. Rußler, A.; Potthast, A.; Rosenau, T.; Lange, T.; Saake, B.; Sixta, H.; Kosma, P. Holzforschung 2006, 60(5), 467-473. Determination of substituent distribution of viscoses by GPC.
  5. Bates, I.; Phillips, D. A. S.; Renfrew, A. H. M.; Rosenau, T. Color. Technol. 2007, 123, 18-23. Protection of lyocell against fibrillation. Part 2.