Magnetic field processing of polymers. I. Hydroxypropyl cellulose

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) of degree of substitution three and average molecular weight of 100,000 was processed in a magnetic field of 1.2T. Films of HPC were cast from water, methanol, ethyl methyl ketone, and 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane solutions in a magnetic field using static and dynamic casting techniques. The processed films were evaluated for tensile strength, elastic modulus, microhardness, and molecular chain alignment by wide angle x‐ray diffraction and polarized infrared. The best alignment and hence the greatest improvement in properties was obtained using a combined magnetic field and flow alignment procedure. These samples showed no increase in the elastic modulus, a 106% increase in the tensile strength, a 21% increase in the microhardness, and were dichroic.