Preparation and properties of konjac glucomannan/attapulgite composite fibers

Attapulgite (AT) was introduced to modify konjac glucomannan (KGM) by solution blending, and KGM/AT blend aqueous solutions were obtained. KGM/AT fibers were prepared in the 95% alcohol coagulation bath using a syringe simulated wet spinning experiment. The spinnability of blend solutions with different AT loadings was investigated according to the longitudinal morphology of KGM/AT fibers. The mechanical properties as well as water absorbing capacity were also studied. It is found that KGM/AT solutions have certain spinnability while irregular structures of KGM/AT fibers such as weak-links, defects, increase with AT loadings increasing. AT nano-rods with proper amount is beneficial to the orientation of KGM molecules during the drafting progress, attribute to the improvement of the mechanical properties of KGM fibers. The water absorption of KGM fibers is improved by the addition of low AT loadings, thus the highest water absorbing capability increases by nearly 50%.