Optical and conformational properties of LC cellulose derivatives in dilute solutions

To analyze the influence of structure of the cellulose derivatives on the m esomorphic behavior it was carried out the investigation of their molecular properties in dilute solutions, Flow birefringence and intrinsic viscosity of cellulose derivatives were studied. The optical anisotropy and equilibr ium rigidity of polymer chain were determined. The investigated cellulose d erivatives are characterized by the high equilibrium rigidity. It was estab lished that their molecules have the conformation of a kinetically rigid co il. It was shown that the values and sign of flow birefringence and corresp ondingly the optical anisotropy of monomer units depends on the structure o f side substitutes and are influenced by the solvent nature and thermodynam ical quality of polymer solution.