The structure of solutions and condensed structures of cellulose triacetate

Abstract

IT IS known that structurized macromolecules exist even in polymer solutions of low concentration, and the number of these increases as the concentration of polymer is increased. Polymer solutions are the starting materials for production of various articles, especially fibres. One of the methods of forming synthetic fibres involves precipitation of a solution in a precipitating bath, in which transition to the non-flowing state passes through the stage of gel formation [1]. For this reason study of the structure of polymer solutions and gels is of practical as well as theoretical interest, especially since the structure of gels is as yet a matter of debate [2-4]. We have made an electron microscopic and X-ray study of solutions and gels of cellulose triaeetate (CTA) in acetic acid. Various methods for direct observation of structural elements in polymer solutions have been described in the literature [5]. We chose the method of freeze (or lyophilic) drying, which has been well proved in studies of biological objects and has recently been finding increasing application in study of the structure of polymer solutions and gels [6-10].