Degree of Polymerisation

The degree of polymerization test is conducted on cellulosic paper insulation. The average number of monomer (cellulose molecule, C₆ H₁₀ O₅) in the cellulose molecule is known as degree of polymerisation of paper. Within a sample of paper, not all the cellulose molecules have the same degree of polymerization so that the mean value measured by viscometric methods is not necessarily the same as that which may be obtained by other methods. Normally new paper can have DP value more than 1000 which decreases with ageing.