AbstractInvestigations were made on cellulose xanthate molecular weights by light scattering during the ripening of the solutions of (a) viscose‐containing colored thio salts and (b) pure cellulose xanthate separated from viscose. Though an apparent reduction in molecular weight was recorded with time of ripening for the viscose solution, no such fall was observed with pure cellulose xanthate. The apparent fall of molecular weight in the case of viscose has been shown to be due to the increasing absorption of the incident beam and to the change in the value ofdn/dcwith progressive color formation. Reproducible results can be obtained for cellulose xanthate solutions freed from color. Intrinsic viscosity of the viscoses and the degree of polymerization (D.P.) of the regenerated cellulose from viscoses during ripening were also measured and found to be constant. The results indicate that no degradation of alkali cellulose molecule takes place during the ripening process, irrespective of the state of degradation of alkali cellulose from which the viscose is mad
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