title: In vitro chiral nematic ordering of chitin crystallites.
abstract: Microfibrillar fragments of purified crab and shrimp chitin were prepared by hydrolysis in 3 M HCl at its boiling point (104 degrees C). After removal of the acid by centrifugal washing and dialysis, an ultrasound treatment converts the residual product to a colloidal suspension stabilized by NH3+ charges. When dewatered to a critical concentration, spontaneous formation of a two-phase equilibrium system system occurs. The upper phase (lower concentration) is isotropic and the lower phase is anisotropic. The latter displays chiral nematic order and dries to a solid film which mimics the helicoid organization characteristic of the chitin microfibrils in the cuticle of arthropods.
authors.affiliation: Paprican Department, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Revol
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Marchessault
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D033364:Decapoda; D006868:Hydrolysis
chemical_list: D002686:Chitin