DIELECTRIC-RELAXATION OF WATER ADSORBED O N FORMALDEHYDE-TREATED CELLULOSE

Two dielectric relaxations were observed for completely dried formalde hyde-treated cellulose. The relaxation process at higher temperatures is considered to be due to the motion of the oxymethylene chains, and the other relaxation process at lower temperatures is considered to be caused by the motion of the methylol groups in the amorphous region o f cellulose. We obtained activation enthalpies of formaldehyde-treated cellulose at the relative humidities of 60% and 90%. The values were almost the same as those in trityl cellulose and cellulose. However, w e did not observe any reorientation process accompanied by a plural nu mber of water molecules. The activation entropies of formaldehyde-trea ted cellulose were greater than those of both trityl cellulose and cel lulose. It can be presume that the water molecules absorbed by the for maldehyde-treated cellulose are restricted to a greater degree by the formation bf crosslinkages between the cellulose chains than by the wa ter molecules in the trityl cellulose and cellulose.