The structure and spontaneous orientational order in surface layers of water-soluble methyl- and hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose films

Abstract

The structure of the surface layers of thin films cast from water-soluble derivatives of cellulose—methyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose—has been studied by the methods of an oblique polarized beam and molecular hydrodynamics. It has been demonstrated that the molecular chains of the polymers under study are characterized by a high degree of order in surface film layers. The orientational order of molecular chains demonstrates a strong molecular mass dependence. This effect is associated with the concentration of terminal segments whose orientational order parameter relative to the film surface differs from the corresponding value of internal segments composing the molecular chain. The quantitative estimates of the orientational order parameter of terminal and internal segments have been performed.