Transition temperatures and structural correlations for cellulose triesters

Six homologs of the cellulose triester series were found to exhibit, in general, three second‐order transitions as determined dilatometrically. A parallel study of torsional modulus versus temperature revealed one glass–rubber transition, which allowed molecular assignment of one of the above. The dependence of the remaining two transition temperatures on length of the ester group permits some speculation with regard to their origin. The glass–rubber and secondary transitions exhibit an inversion for cellulose trivalerate and higher homologs, the two secondary transitions occurring at temperatures higher than the glass–rubber transition. A possible explanation for this anomaly in terms of side‐chain crystallization is discussed.