NOVEL CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES .1. LIQUID-CRYSTAL PHASE-FORMATION IN TRI-O-ALPHA-NAPHTHYLMETHYL CELLULOSE SOLUTIONS

Tri-O-alpha-naphthylmethyl cellulose was prepared by homogeneous phase reaction using SO2-diethylamine (DEA)-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as th e solvent system. Observations made by dynamic mechanical spectrometry and by cross-polarized optical microscopy revealed liquid crystalline behavior for the concentrated solutions of tri-O-alpha-naphthylmethyl cellulose in dimethylacetamide (DMAc). Experimental and calculated (p redicted) critical volume fraction of the derivative, V(p)c, did not s how agreement. It is determined that V(p)c is affected by bulky substi tuents on the cellulose backbone to some extent. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.