Preparation and characterisation of hydrophobically modified hydroxypropylcellulose:: Side-chain crystallisation

Hydroxypropylcellulose has been hydrophobically modified by reaction with different amounts of palmitoyl chloride. When the degree of substitution is sufficiently high, the side chains are able to produce lateral crystallisation, which has been analysed by DSC and diffraction experiments, using both conventional and synchrotron radiation. The melting temperatures and enthalpies depend on the degree of substitution, in such a way that is relatively easy to get melting temperatures close to that of the human body, although a rather wide melting region is obtained.