Study of the hexamethylenediamine–cellulose complex

Abstract Complete conversion of the cellulose crystal lattice to that of the hexamethylene diamine–cellulose complex was attained with diamine solutions of 75% and greater. Solutions of 70% or less produced only partial conversion, although the samples contained high diamine contents. Evaporation temperatures over 90°C. reduced these diamine contents and resulted in partial lattice conversion. Neither this effect nor those following have been observed in the ethylenediamine–cellulose complex. The complex did not change while held in vacuum over sodium hydroxide pellets but gained weight when held in air. After long exposure the yarn was stiff and coated with white powder believed to be hexamethylenediamine carbamate. Attempts to react the complex with cellulose and diamine reactants were not successful. Evidence could not be found for a 2:1 molecular ratio between anhydroglucose units and diamine. Extent of fiber swelling was related to diamine content of the fiber and not to distention of the unit cell. Differences were observed in the intensities of the 101 and 10 1 x‐ray interferences of the cellulose I and cellulose II complexes.