ARS | Publication request: X-Ray Crystallinity of Bleached and Crosslinked Cottons

Submitted to: Textile Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2007
Publication Date: August 1, 2007
Citation: Parikh, D.V., Thibodeaux, D.P., Condon, B.D. 2007. X-ray crystallinity of bleached and crosslinked cottons. Textile Research Journal. 77(8):612-616.

Interpretive Summary: Scientists at the Southern Regional Research Center have embarked on a comprehensive research program aimed at increasing the utilization of cotton in nonwovens. The approach under consideration uses treatments to cotton fiber such as bleaching, mercerization and crosslinking. The work on mercerization of the cotton fiber has been recently published in the AATCC Review Journal of April, 2006. The focus of the present work is to study bleaching and subsequent crosslinking of cotton for improved wrinkle recovery for Wash-N-Wear and Durable Press finishing. Crosslinking involves resin to make the fibers more resilient. The conventional resin imparts cotton tumble-drying quality whereas formaldehyde Form W process imparts smooth line drying. Line drying saves energy and many Asian countries successfully practice line drying. A continuously recording x-ray diffractometer was used to study changes in the crystalline structure of cotton fibers subjected to a wide variety of chemical and physical treatments. The results indicate that crosslinking of bleached cotton increases its degree of cystallinity (when crosslinked with resin DMDHEU or citric acid) but does not change its crystalline nature, meaning it remains Cellulose I. Raw unbleached native cotton is Cellulose I.

Technical Abstract: An X-ray diffractometer was used to study the crystalline structure of cotton fibers after bleaching, crosslinking and a combination of bleaching and crosslinking treatments. Wet crosslinking was accomplished with formaldehyde (Form W) and dry crosslinking was carried out with either dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) or citric acid (CA).Results indicate that crosslinking of bleached cotton does not change the crystalline nature of cotton (i.e. it is Cellulose I) but does increase its degree of crystallinity when crosslinked with either DMDHEU or CA; crosslinked Form W is relatively less crystalline.