Langmuir-Blodgett films of substituted cellulose acetomyristate: fabrication and X-ray diffraction study

The behaviour of the monolayer of cellulose triester of myristic and acetic acids on a water surface has been studied. The surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherm curves of the monolayer of triester had a plateau region. The cyclic π-A curve measurements, i.e. the cycles of compression and successive expansion of the monolayer, showed that the structural change in the monolayer under compression was non-reversible. The multilayers prepared by Langmuir-Schaefer method at different surface pressure provided X-ray diffraction patterns, which suggested that they had a Y-type packing. Studies of the relationship between the structure of the Langmuir-Blodgett films and the surface pressure for film deposition revealed that a change in the orientation of cellulose triester molecules was caused by compression of the monolayer.