Cellulose is one of the most abundant compounds found in nature. However, the environmental conditions the substance is placed in is of utmost importance to the structure of the cellulose and must be controlled to ensure optimal strength and cohesiveness of the compound. Here, we developed a simple statistical physics model to simulate how thermodynamic properties affect microscopic cellulose. Depending on temperature, the type of hydrogen bonds holding the cellulose together dynamically change. The Specific Heat calculated in the simulation agrees well with cellulose's experimental Specific Heat value. Though only a simple model, the physics behind the simulation was able to reproduce experimental data with high accuracy and provides insights into the microscopic behavior of cellulose.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Rinearson, Robert Morris

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-083019-094058

Advisor

• Stroe, Izabela RC

Year

• 2019

Date created

• 2019-08-30

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Rights statement

• In Copyright