Composites of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and chitin whiskers were prepared using evaporation method. The weight fraction of chitin whiskers (CHW) was varied from 73 to 23%. Raman was utilised for the first time to monitor the deformation of chitin film and chitin-reinforced PAA composites. The Raman band located at 1622 cm(-1) was monitored for deformation. On application of tensile force, the Raman band initially found at 1622 cm(-1) corresponding to the single H-bonded amide one spectrum shifted towards a lower wavenumber. Raman band shift rates of - 1.85 cm(-1)/% for chitin film and - 0.25, - 0.59 and - 0.59 cm(-1)/% for 23, 43 and 73 wt% CHW whiskers, respectively, were obtained. The Young modulus of composites materials and whiskers were 37, 16 and 115 GPa, respectively, for a two-dimensional in-plane distribution of CHW. CHW within PAA did not show any preferential alignment. At high volume or weight of PAA or low weight CHW (3, 11% chitin) monitoring of the Raman peak shift was difficult.