THERMOREVERSIBLE GELS OF CHITIN

Gels of chitin have been obtained by heating solutions of the polymer in dimethylacetamide containing 5% of LiCl at T > 90 degrees C. The so l-gel transition is reversible and its temperature depends on the poly mer concentration and, to a lesser extent, on the molecular weight. Pr etransitional effects were observed by viscometry. A possible interpre tation of the results, in terms of polymer-solvent interaction and the thermodynamics of the transformation, is suggested. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.