FINE STRUCTURE IN NATIVE CELLULOSE FIBER

Abstract

Possible molecular chain folding of native cellulose was studied mainly by examining X-ray diffractions of native cellulose in woods treated with 4 N hydrochloric acid.
The following results were obtained:
1) Both samples of softwood [Tsuga Sieboldii Carr. (TSUGA), Cryptomeria japonica D. Don (SUGI) and Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl. (HINOKI)] and those of hardwood [Betula Tauschii Koidz. (KABA), Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr. (YACHIDAMO) and Quercus serrata Thunb (NARA)] gave ca. 480 Å as the long period obtained by the small angle scattering, in spite of the differences in the rates of hydrolysis and in the crystall inities.
2) On the other hand, the crystallite lengths of these samples measured by the wide angle scattering were ca. 220 Å.
These results suggest that the fine structure of native cellulose consists of the folded chain molecules.