Effect of Liquid Ammonia on the Fine Structure of Linen Fabrics

Abstract

It has recently been shown that liquid ammonia treatment (water-based process) is very effective in improving the wrinkle recovery, dimensional stability, and resistance to abrasion of the all-linen fabrics. In this study the changes in the fine structure were characterized by measuring the crystallinity and sorption properties of the linen fabrics. In addition, the effect of liquid ammonia on the surface properties of the linen fibers was investigated. X-ray analysis showed that liquid ammonia treatment did not significantly affect the ratio of crystalline and amorphous regions, but a partial recrystallization occurred in the crystalline part, resulting in mixed cellulose I and III lattices in the linen substrates. Although the moisture regain and iodine sorption capacity of the treated linen substrates increased, water retention values, however, were decreased significantly by the intracrystalline swelling treatment.

Keywords

Linen liquid ammonia crystallinity sorption properties

References

Csiszár, E. , and Somlai, P. , Improving Softness and Hand of Linen and Linen-Containing Fabrics with Finishing , AATCC Review, 4(3) 17-21 (2004).

Kim, E. , and Csiszár, E. , Chemical Finishing of Linen and Ramie Fabrics , J. Natural Fibers, 2(3) 35-48 (2005).

Csiszár, E. , Dornyi, B. , Somlai, P. , and Bors, A. , Liquid Ammonia Treatment of Linen Fabrics , AATCC Review, 6(7), 44-49 (2006).

Bertoniere, N. R. , King, W. D. , and Rowland, S. P. , Effect of Mode of Agent Removal on Pore Structure of Liquid Ammonia Treated Cotton Cellulose , J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 31, 2769-2777 (1986).

Greenwood, P. F. , Mercerization and Liquid Ammonia treatment of Cotton , JSDC. 103, 342-349 (1987).

Meyer, C. , Improved Textile Wear Properties through the Liquid Ammonia Process , Intl Textile Bull. 45(1), 68-70 (1999).

Rowland, S. P. , Nelson, M. L. , Welch, C. M. , and Hebert, J. J. , Cotton Fiber Morphology and Textile Performance Properties , Textile Res. J. 46(3), 194-212 (1976).

Bredereck, K. , and Commarmot, A. , Ammoniakbehandlung von cellulosischen Fasern , Melliand Textilberichte, 79(1-2), 64-68 (1998).

Kozlowski, R. , and Manys, S. , Latest bast fibre achievements , Textile Asia 28(8), 55-58 (1997).

10.

Lee, M. , Wakida, T. , Tokuyama, T. , Doi, C. , Lim, Y. L. , and Jeon, S.-K. , Liquid Ammonia Treatment of Regenerated Cellulosic Fabrics , Textile Res. J. 75(1), 13-18 (2005).

11.

Troope, W. , The Liquid Ammonia Treatment of Fabrics. Areas of Application , In: Pap. Conf. Liquid Ammonia Treatment of Cellulosic Textile, Belle Vue, Manchester, England, 1970. Cotton Silk and Man-made Fibres Research Assoc., Shirley Inst., Didsbury, pp. 40-46 .

12.

Rousselle, M. A. , Nelson, M. L. , Hassenboehler, C. B. Jr. , and Legendre, D. C. , Liquid-Ammonia and Caustic Mercerization of Cotton Fibers: Changes in Fine Structure and Mechanical Properties , Textile Res. J. 46(4), 304-310 (1976).

13.

Yatsu, L. Y. , Calamari, T. A. Jr. , and Benerito, R. R. , Conversion of Cellulose I to Stable Cellulose III , Textile Res. J. 56(7), 419-424 (1986).

14.

Nelson, M. L. , Rousselle, M. A. , Cangemi, S. J. , and Trouard, P. , The Iodine Sorption Test: Factors Affecting the Reproducibility and a Semi-Micro Adaptation , Textile Res. J. 40(10), 872-880 (1970).

15.

Buschle-Diller, G. , and Zeronian, S. H. , Enhancing Reactivity and Strength of Cotton Fibers , J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 45, 967-979 (1992)

16.

Rowland, S. P. , Wade, C. P. , and Bertoniere, N. R. , Pore Structure Analysis of Purified, Sodium Hydroxide-Treated and Liquid Ammonia-Treated Cotton Celluloses , J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 29, 3349-3357 (1984).