Plasticization Kinetics and Supramolecular Structure of the Cellulose Nitrates Obtained from Different Cellulose-Containing Raw Materials

The kinetics of plasticization and the supramolecular structure of the cellulose nitrates obtained from wood, flax, and cotton celluloses were studied. These studies are essential for finding alternative sources of cellulose-containing raw materials for cellulose nitrate production with a view to overcoming the acute cotton scarcity problem. A precondition to the processing of cellulose nitrates is their plasticizability by semi-volatile low-molecular-weight compounds, and the quality of the resulting products is directly affected by the plasticization rate.