Studies on the swelling of cotton fibers in alkali metal hydroxides. III. Structure‐property relations in fibers swollen at 0°C

Abstract

AbstractCotton fibers were subjected to swelling in various concentrations of LiOH, NaOH, and KOH at 0°C. Swollen fibers were characterized by measurements of physical, mechanical, and fine structural properties. Slack swelling in LiOH and NaOH produced tremendous changes in fiber properties. Clear‐cut swelling maxima, disorientation, and subsequent deterioration in tensile properties at and near the swelling maxima were evident in both LiOH and NaOH. On the other hand, KOH swelling did not produce any clear swelling maximum. Fibers swollen in this reagent showed better retention of tensile properties due to conducive changes in the structural parameters resulting from a lower but more uniform swelling. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.