Stress-Strain Properties of Mercerized, Stretched, and Durable-Press Treated Cotton Fibers

Abstract

Six cotton samples were slack-mercerized and stretched to 0.94, 1.0, and 1.036 of the original length. All treatments were given an overtreatment of durable-press resin. The effect on 3.2-mm-gauge bundle tenacity and elongation depended on the amount of stretching. Samples slack-mercerized and stretched to original length increased in tenacity an average of 50%, and with an overtreatment of resin, 89% of the tenacity was retained. Samples differed in their reactions to the treatments. The percent retention of tenacity after treatment varied inversely with the ratio of the 3.2-mm-gauge length tenacity to the zero-gauge length tenacity of the untreated fibers. Clamps and stretchers developed to stretch the mercerized cotton fiber bundles are described. ' . '

Stretch Mercerization of Cotton Fibers

“…The problem of the effects of tension on the properties of mercerized cotton fibers has been the subject of many research reports [5,6,7,9]. Researchers generally concede that slack mercerization of cotton fol-lowed by restretching in the mercerization alkaG to about its original length results in a substrate that loses less strength on treatment with crosslinking reagents than does nonpretreated cotton.…”

“…Lawson et al [5] examined six cotton fiber samples of different cultivars. They developed a clamp and a cotton stretching device to stretch a bundle of mercerized cotton fibers.…”