Does the crystalline region of the cellulose polymer mainly composed of larger DP polymer chains and the amorphous region comprised of smaller DP polymer chains, or is it the other way around, or DP and crystallinity are not related to each other at all? Any literature sources that discuss anything related to this topic?
In my opinion there is no relation between DP and crystallinity. You can have micro- and nanocrystals of cellulose at different DP depending on the way the cellulose is prepared. Often amorphous zones can be hydrolyzed and then the crystalline zones can be repolymerized into high crystalline cellulose.
That also depends if you are talking about native cellulose, found in lignocellulosic biomass...
Degree of polymerization is not related to crystallinity of cellulose. Degree of polymerization can be same in both crystalline and amorphous region of cellulose however crystallinity is the factor of packing of cellulose chains which further depends upon hydrogen bonding.
Hi Firnaaz,
I believe the attached paper help you to find your answer
Structure–process–yield interrelatnano crystallinestalline cellulose extraction
Thank you all for the insights. I'm sure I have a better understanding of the relationship between DP and crystallinity of the cellulose polymer now.
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