Physical Properties of Chemically Modified Cottons

Abstract

Yarns from six cottons selected for their widely different inherent fiber characteristics were mercerized (1) under sufficient tension to maintain their original length, and (2) while permitted to contract freely. Fibers were removed from the yarns and were sub jected to certain physical measurements. Moisture regain, cellulose density, linear den sity, breaking load, and elongation at break were measured on either or both fibers and yarns. Samples of the different cottons were found to differ in their response to the treatment. Those samples with a low value in a property generally displayed the greatest per cent change in that property. Large differences in the properties of the fibers and yarns were associated with the condition of mercerization whether at constant length or slack. Mercerization tended to equalize differences between the properties of fibers in a sample as well as between those of different samples.