Conformational change studies by intrinsic viscosity of cellulose tricarbanilate as a function of temperature.

The experimental variation of the intrinsic viscosity [η] as a function of temperature for various molecular weights of cellulose tricarbanilate in solution in dioxane displays a S-shaped character with two plateau regions, respectively at low and high temperatures. The use of the Yamakawa model leads to two distinct values for the chain stiffness q, one which may be associated to a rather 'rigid' conformation of the macromolecule (q=139 Å), the other which may correspond to a rather 'flexible' conformation (q = 84Å). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]