Comparison of the Mechanical Properties of Cotton Yarns and Fabrics Treated with Anhydrous Ethylamine and with Mercerizing Caustic

Abstract

Samples of cotton yarn, tire cord, and fabric were subjected to treatment with an hydrous ethylamine to produce cellulose III. The physical and mechanical properties of these products were compared with those of the untreated materials (containing cel lulose I crystal lattice) and of mercerized cotton (containing cellulose II crystal lattice). The ethylamine treatment produced effects upon the textile properties of the original materials which were similar to those of slack-mercerization but smaller percentagewise. The properties of the treated cottons apparently were affected more by the accompanying fiber swelling and yarn shrinkage than by the shift in crystal lattice. Ethylamine-treated bandage gauze compared favorably with the slack-mercerized "conforming bandage" pioneered at the Southern Regional Research Laboratory.