The effect of liquid crystal structure on the rheological properties of nitrocellulose-dimethylacetamide solutions

Solutions of Pyro grade nitrocellulose (NC) in dimethyl acetamide (DMA), containing between 42.5% and 60% NC (w/w), have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and polarised light microscopy. The results showed that NC forms a lyotropic liquid crystal structure in DMA. A transition from the liquid crystal phase to an isotropic phase occurred over the temperature range 27 °C to 67 °C, and the enthalpy of transition increased with NC concentration. Rheological properties were determined using an extrusion rheometer with a slit die. The solutions were shown to have a yield stress for flow which increased with increasing NC concentration. The solutions were also found to be thixotropic.