Studies on chitin. iii. preparation of chitin fibers

Abstract

The chitin fiber was obtained from a chitin-formic acid solution which was found to be spinnable. This solution was prepared through repeated freezing process by the addition of dichloroacetic acid and isopropyl ether. Dichloroacetic acid and methanesulfonic acid were also found to be solvents for chitin, though the spinnability could not be observed owing to rapid reduction of viscosity even at low temperature. Chitin fibers were successfully prepared from formic acid solution, and better qualities were found for these than for the fibers prepared through the chitin viscose. X-Ray diffraction analysis suggested that the regenerated chitin would have a similar structure to the natural chitin. The clear and flexible chitin film was prepared from formic acid–dichloroacetic acid or formic acid–urea solution by casting on a glass plate and solidifying in ethanol. © 1979 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan.