Lyotropic mesophases of cellulose in the ammonia/ammonium thiocyanate solvent system: Phase relationships

Mesophase formation of the cellulose/NH3/NH4SCN system has been studied as a function of system composition at 25°C. Compositions for incipience of mesophase formation and for wholly anisotropic phase formation have been determined and relevant phase diagrams constructed. The biphasic gap narrowed when the solvent composition approached 75.5 weight percent NH4SCN and as the cellulose concentration decreased. As solvent composition was changed, the minimum cellulose volume fraction for mesophase formation ranged between 0.02 to 0.045.