Light scattering by cellulose. I. Native cellulose films

Crystalline cellulose films are analyzed by solid‐state light scattering, using a photographic technique. The light‐scattering envelopes may be theoretically predicted by assuming a model consisting of randomly oriented anisotropic rods. The experimentally observed anisotropy patterns are discussed in terms of this model and are related to various ways in which the fibrils may aggregate. These are often visible in electron micrographs of cellulose materials. The method is applicable to paper samples which are sufficiently thin and dense.