Colloidal macromolecular phenomena. Part II. Novel microcrystals of polymers

Abstract Colloidal microcrystalline cellulose, introduced in 1961, now is a successful commercial product with growing world‐wide markets. This paper describes some major findings of our continuing research to convert fibrous or fiber‐forming polymer systems into new colloidal microcrystalline physical states without going through a homogeneous molecular solution phase. Several novel microcrystalline colloidal products from the following natural and/or synthetic polymeric raw materials are described and compared for the first time: cellulose, amylose, collagen, nylon, and chrysotile mineral silicates. Many previously unpublished electron micrographs are presented. These products demonstrate a new and growing field of colloidal microcrystalline polymer science. They open up increasing opportunities for new polymer products based on the original concept, namely, the unhinging of polymer microcrystals from their natural or synthetic network and then by appropriate mechanical energy, releasing them as discrete, submicron colloidal polymer microcrystals dispersed in various liquid media to form unique gel systems, or reaggregated in the dry state to form porous colloidal particles.