Lyocell fibers have excellent properties, but they show a distinct tendency to fibrillate with wetting and mechanical stress. Chemical modification by esterification of these fibers could be a good means of solving this problem. A scanning electron microscopy analysis shows that treatment with polycar oxylic acids can effectively reduce the fibrillation tendency of lyocell fibers. A revised wet abrasion test method is used to measure fibrillation tendency. Wet abrasion time and mechanical property measurements reveal that fibers treated with 5-6% 1,2,3,4-butanetetra-carboxylic acid or 13-14% polymaleic acid exhibit satisfactory fibrillation resistance and mechanical properties.
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