AbstractThe manner in which diethyl phthalate (DEP) is absorbed into nitrocellulose (NC) fibers has been observed microscopically. The movement of pure DEP into dry fibers proceeds by capillary motion up the central canal (lumen) and through microcracks between fibrils. Attack, measured by a large change in birefringence, spreads from these foci, and within the time scale of the experiment there is little interaction with the primary (outer) wall of the fiber. If, however, the lumen and other capillary passages are blocked by water or other liquid, then attack proceeds evenly from the outer wall and a sharp boundary between swollen and unswollen material moves at a uniform speed towards the center of the fiber and appears to be unaffected by the fibrillar structure (Case II swelling). If the supply of DEP to the surface is interrupted, this boundary becomes immobile, and the concentration of DEP in the swollen layer is that which is just sufficient to saturate residual un‐nitrated hydroxyl groups on the NC. Reducing the activity of the DEP by admixture with benzene results in similar sharp boundaries, presumably because capillaries become blocked with spent diluent. Apart from capillary action, movement is always perpendicular to the fiber axi
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