Dynamo-optical and electro-optical properties of cellulose nitrate molecules in solutions☆

Abstract A study was made of flow birefringence, refringence in electric field and intrinsic viscosity in dioxane and cyclohexanone, diffusion and sedimentation in methylethylketone of solutions of a cellulose nitrate sample with a nitrogen content of 10·7%. The electro-optical and dynamo-optical properties of cellulose nitrate solutions observed are typical of all chain molecules which are rigid from an equilibrium and kinetic point of view, including a number of other cellulose esters. Experimental results are discussed using the theory of translational friction and the viscosity of worm-like chains and the theory of Maxwell effect and Kerr effect in rigid-chain polymer solutions. Equilibrium and kinetic rigidity, optical anisotropy and dipole moments of cellulose nitrate molecules are determined.