Abstract
Solutions of variously acetylated chitin in formic acid were prepared by freezing with addition of dicholoroacetic acid or organic solvent, and spun into diisopropyl ether to give acetylchitin fibers. 1.0 Acetylchitin fiber was also obtained by the direct acetylation of chitin fiber in a perchloric acid–acetic anhydride mixture. 1.1 Acetylated chitin fiber showed the maximum tenacity, elongation, and knot strength among the variously acetylated chitin fibers, while a maximum Young’s modulus was shown by the 1.6 acetylchitin fiber. Acetylchitin fibers have the advantage of greater tenacity and elongation in comparison with chitin fiber. These advantages contribute to the practical usefulness of chitin in spite of its poor solubility in most solvents and poor reactivity toward chemical reagents. Also the acetylchitin film prepared from formic acid–dichloroacetic acid mixture is softer and thus more pleasing to the touch than chitin film.
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References
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Tokura, S., Nishi, N., Somorin, O. et al. Studies on Chitin. IV. Preparation of Acetylchitin Fibers. Polym J 12, 695–700 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.12.695
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1295/polymj.12.695
