X-ray study of crystalline character and mechanical properties of cotton fibers swollen in zincoxen solution

Abstract

Swelling of cotton in zincoxen solutions of various concentrations was performed for 1 hr at 0°C. The crystallite orientation and the crystallite dimensions of the swollen cotton fibers were determined by x-ray techniques. The swelling in zincoxen improved the orientation and Young's modulus. The relationships between the modulus and (a) the crystallite orientation and (b) the crystallite dimensions were measured, and the correlation was found to be good with the former and poor with the latter.