THE FORMATION OF SPHERULITES IN PELLICLES OF BACTERIAL CELLULOSE

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Abstract
Two-dimensional analogues of spherulites are formed in the pellicle of bacterial cellulose produced by static cultures of Acetobacter xylinum. These spherulites are much larger (sometimes more than 1 cm diameter) than those usually observed in other natural or synthetic polymers. They are due to the radial orientation of bacterial cellulose microfibrils in limited regions of the plane of the pellicle. These spherulites interact to form characteristic, dendritic structures of great complexity which resemble leaves of higher plants.