Effect of resin chemisorption and crosslinking on various fiber properties of cotton

Abstract

SynopsisChemisorption and crosslinking of cotton cellulose has been carried out with DMEU, DMPU, DHEU, and DMDHEU. Various physicochemical properties of resin-treated samples have been studied and the data subjected to a linear regression analysis. Using the techniques of liquid retention and optical microscopy it has been found that the chemisorbed cotton is characterized by a lower level of bound resin, greater amount of methylol HCHO, and higher swellability of structure in comparison to the crosslinked cotton. This difference of behavior between the two cottons is attributed to greater rigidification and a collapse of porous structure in crosslinked cotton as a result of catalytic activity a t the curing temperature. For various resin-treated samples there exists a linear relationship between the strength and recovery characteristics of single fibers and those of fiber bundles. The losses in fiber strength and extensibility are found to be proportional to the level of bound resin in various samples. Crosslinked fibers show appreciably higher magnitudes of elastic recovery and bundle crease recovery than chemisorbed fibers. The significance of these results is discussed.