Urea as a Solvent Aid for Cellulose Textile Sizes

Abstract

Urea was evaluated as a solvent aid for alkali-soluble ethylene oxide ethers of cellulose which are suitable as textile sizes. It was not found to be an economical aid for this purpose, although it apparently reduced solution viscosity. The ratios of caustic to water and cellulose ether to water were shown to be the main factors controlling solution viscosity. Based upon the fact that urea has a very high partial and apparent molal volume in aqueous solutions, it is suggested that urea acts as an inert diluent when incorporated into alkaline solutions of the ethylene oxide ethers. Further, it was shown that urea could bring about either increases or decreases in the viscosity of these ether solutions, depending upon whether urea is added to or replaces water in any given system.

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