Determination of the crystallinity of cellulose samples by x‐ray diffraction

Abstract

Abstract Changes in the fine structure of cellulose samples of different origin during treatment with sodium hydroxide in ethanol/water mixtures were studied. A computer program was written for peak separation and profile analysis. The presence of an amorphous phase was taken into account by adding a Gaussian type function to the diffraction profile. This method gives very good agreement parameters and enables the precise estimation of the crystallinity of cellulose samples. The relations between total and partial crystallinties, crystallite dimensions, and crystallite cross‐sections are discussed.