Sorption of Caustic Solution by Formaldehyde-Crosslinked Cottons

Abstract

Differences in the ability of formaldehyde-crosslinked cotton fibers to swell are demonstrated in terms of alkali centrifuge values (ACV), i.e., the sorption of caustic solution of mercerizing strength. The wide range in ACV (310–50) emphasizes the extremes in sorptivity that can be achieved by differences in formaldehyde content and in method of introducing the cross links. In general, the ACV decreases with increasing formaldehyde content. However, ACV higher than that of the noncross-linked control cotton are reached for those samples in which a low percentage of formaldehyde was introduced into water-swollen fibers. Various hypotheses, based on ACV and related data, are presented pertaining to the alterations in fiber structure during the cross-linking processes and during the alkali swelling centrifuge test