Plasticization of Fibrous Cellulose Acetate: Part II – Physical Property Measurement

Birefringence, broadband dielectric and dynamic mechanical relaxation measurements are reported on fibrous cellulose acetate (CTA) plasticized with dibutylphthalate (DBP). Marked differences in physical properties are attributed to retention of nano-structure. Dielectric and mechanical relaxation data show two relaxation processes. The lowest temperature process is attributed to segmental type motion of the polymer chain and the higher temperature process to side-chain/plasticizer relaxation. The plasticization behavior is very different from that observed with other materials. The high-temperature relaxations are consistent with relative sliding of the polymer chain or nano crystallites past one another as in a liquid crystalline material.