Thermotropic mesomorphism of selected (2‐hydroxypropyl)cellulose derivatives

The thermotropic mesomorphism of some cellulose derivatives (CD) based on the (2-hydroxypropyl)cellulose (HPC) was investigated. Three types of derivatives: two esters (PPC, HxPC) and cyanoethyl derivative (CEPC) were prepared. The X-ray diffraction patterns of CDs were compared with the differential scanning calorimetry, thermooptical, and mechanical measurements within a broad range of the temperature. Two relaxation processes αa and αm, observed in the solid state of HPC, are also exhibited by all CDs, however, at lower temperatures. The αm relaxations, which indicate the transition from frozen anisotropic phase to mobile liquid crystalline (LC)-phase, are shifted towards the lower temperatures with a corresponding increase in the d-spacing of the poly(saccharide) main chains of CDs (as seen in the X-ray measurements). The transition temperature to isotropic phase Tni as well as glass transition temperature Tg (αa-relaxation) of the investigated CDs depend on the interactions between the lipophilic side chains and the hydrophilic poly(saccharide) main chains of CDs. These interactions are determined by the length and polarity of the lipophilic side chains. The observed changes in the transition temperature to isotropic phase Tni for CDs is consistent with the assumption that LC-organization of the poly(saccharide) main chains is stabilized by the lipophilic side-chains system. A significant increase in the length of the lipophilic side chains leads to nonlinear conformation, thus reducing the influence of van der Vaals forces, and consequently lowering Tni. The polymer with high polarity lipophilic side chains (CEPC) exhibits higher Tni in comparison to the ester derivative PPC with the same length of the side chains but having lower polarity. The stabilization effect of the lipophilic side-chains system on the LC-organization of the poly(saccharide) main chains is determined by the dynamic balance between length and polarity of the lipophilic side-chains system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 837–844, 2000

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