Preparation of new types of temperature‐responsive cellulose derivatives

Abstract This paper reviews briefly our preliminary results concerning thermoplastic hydrogels and thermotropic aqueous gels from cellulose. Several kinds of thermoplastic hydrogels and thermotropic aqueous gels were prepared from cellulose and their thermal properties were examined. The former aims at preparing water‐insoluble cellulose derivatives having a high water absorbency and a thermal flow temperature of approximately 130°C, while the later aims at preparing water‐soluble cellulose derivatives which show a solubility behavior similar to that of synthetic polymers with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in aqueous solution. The results will be discussed in terms of the chemical structure of the prepared derivatives and their substituent distributions along the cellulose chain.