Physical and fine structure properties of cotton fibers swollen with trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide

Abstract

AbstractCotton fiber was treated with aqueous trimethylbenzylammonium hydroxide (Triton B) at concentrations over the range 25%–40%. After complete removal of the swelling agent, the samples were evaluated for the extent of swelling, strength and elongation, birefringence, moisture regain, density, crystallinity, x‐ray diffraction patterns, and microfibrillar morphology. Electron‐microscopical examination and other evaluation of fine structure properties revealed that the nature of swelling is intercrystalline up to 30% concentration of Triton B, and intracrystalline beyond that. Although the swelling as measured by propanol‐2 retention after treatment with 30% Triton B is about twice as much as that of the control, the original structure remains almost unchanged except for some gain in strength and elongation and increase in moisture regain. At 32% Triton B concentration and beyond, rapid decrystallization takes place, accompanied by a fall in birefringence, density, and crystallinity index. X‐Ray analysis showed significant loss of lateral order and partial conversion of cellulose I to cellulose II at 35% and 40% Triton B concentrations. The results indicate that, used at the critical concentration of 30%, Triton B can be a useful swelling agent for cotton fibers as it opens up the fine structure of cellulose considerably without impairing any important physical properties.