MICROBIAL DEGRADATION OF POLYMER SOLIDS - 1. CELLOPHANE.

Specimens of regenerated cellulose films (cellophane) have been inoculated with cellulolytic fungi and the resulting degradation monitored through change in physical properties. Investigation of structure-property relationships in cellophane have revealed that surface microfibrils are highly oriented parallel to the manufacturing machine direction, while those in the film interior exist in a somewhat disordered array. Tensile strength declines progressively as this degradation occurs, but vapor barrier properties remain unchanged. This suggests that intrusion of hyphae, in combination with enzymatic digestion of cellulose, rapidly lowers load-bearing characteristics, but moistue permeation rates stay nearly constant owing to the presence of fungal material at sites where cellulose has been removed.