Enhancing the reactivity and strength of cotton fibers

Abstract Both sodium hydroxide solution of mercerizing strength and anhydrous methylamine are suitable pretreatments for enhancing the reactivity of cotton cellulose. Favorable results are achieved by maintaining the fiber material in the never‐dried state after the swelling treatment. Extraction by organic solvents is to be preferred over water‐washing in order to remove the swelling agent. When cotton is swollen with either aqueous sodium hydroxide or anhydrous methylamine and then washed and dried, its crystallinity, as determined by X‐ray diffraction is not lowered as much as it is if it is acetylated to an acetyl content of about 9% before drying. The greatest modifications of the crystal structure of cotton were found on methylamine treatment followed by chloroform and pyridine washing and acetylation in the never‐dried state (MeCP product), as well as by alcoholic mercerization followed by ethanol and pyridine washing and acetylation in the never‐dried state (AMEP). As determined by moisture regains, no significant differences are apparent between the accessibility of samples of low acetyl content (ca. 9%) prepared by either the AMEP or by the MeCP treatment. The DTA curves of methylamine‐treated cotton with an acetyl content close to that of commercial diacetate and the commercial product are dissimilar. It can be concluded from the DTA curve of the deacetylated product prepared from this MeCP sample that it has a highly disordered structure. The tensile properties of the acetylated products of low acetyl content are considerably improved if acetylation is preceded by mercerization with subsequent solvent exchange, and less so if it is preceded by methylamine followed by solvent exchange. Incorporation of acetyl groups significantly enhances the breaking strength and extensibility of mercerized solvent‐washed materials.