MOLECULAR SIZE AND CONFIGURATION OF CELLULOSE TRINITRATE IN SOLUTION

Abstract

Viscosity and light-scattering measurements were made on several fractions and two unfractionated samples of cellulose trinitrate. The samples were prepared from bleached ramie, unbleached ramie, and cotton linters. The solvents were acetone and ethyl acetate. Viscosity was measured in a multishear viscometer designed for the purpose. Light-scattering measurements were made in a Brice-Phoenix Light-scattering Photometer modified to accommodate a cell which could be ultracentrifuged.The range of molecular weight investigated was from 6.5 × 10⁵ to 25.0 × 10⁵ The relationship between the z-average mean-square radius of gyration, [Formula: see text] and the z-average molecular weight was approximately linear in both solvents. The ratio of [Formula: see text] (where [Formula: see text] is the value of [Formula: see text] in the unperturbed state) was found constant in acetone but to increase with [Formula: see text] in ethyl acetate. This indicated that, whereas in acetone random coil configuration was attained, a configurational transition occurred in ethyl acetate in the molecular weight range investigated.The value of the exponent a in the relationship between intrinsic viscosity and molecular weight was found to be lower than unity but approximately equal in both solvents.The significance of the experimental data is discussed.