Pelletized pre-dope granules of cellulose and tertiary amine oxide,

Abstract

This specification discloses pelletized pre-dope granules of cellulose and a tertiary amine oxide wherein the tertiary amine oxide is homogeneously dispersed throughout the cellulose and a process for making them. According to the invention, the pelletized pre-dope granules can be prepared by a process comprising of the steps of feeding cellulose to a mill with knife-edged blades, together with the tertiary amine oxide powder having a water content of 5 to 17% by weight; and milling and blending the resulting solid mixture in the blender, while heating the solid mixture at a temperature sufficient to agglomerate as a result of instantaneous melting of tertiary amine oxide powder and simultaneous penetration of the molten amine oxide into cellulose without dissolving the cellulose. The pre-dope granules thus obtained can be used in making shaped cellulosic articles such as fibers and films. According to the invention, the shaped cellulosic articles can be produced from the process comprising the steps of heating the pre-dope granules in the barrel of an extruder to give a dope solution, extruding the resulting dope solution to provide an extrudate to be spun, and spinning the extrudate through a spinnerette or die.