Abstract
A differential staining method for the skin of viscose rayons is described. The pro cedure consists in the dyeing of fiber cross sections by a blue direct dye, Azine Brilliant Blue, followed by washing through the usual alcohol series. Being so simple in opera tion and involving no special technique. it can be used conveniently for routine work. The results obtained are identical to those of the Victoria Blue method and are com parable to results using the Gentian Violet method.
It is most probable that all these microscopical stains differentiate between the skin and core in the normal viscose rayons only in terms of physical phenomena, such as diffusion, absorption, and swelling. The skin is stained much more slowly, but retains the dye much more strongly than the core, which is quickly dyed and readily washed out.
The present technique has been applied to a wider range of cellulosic fibers. Among others, cotton and BX fiber (a French viscose rayon produced by high concentration sulfuric acid spinning) are shown to be similar to the core, while mercerized cotton, Shintoramomen (a Japanese viscose rayon staple produced by low concentration sulfuric acid spinning), and Fortisan (a rayon regenerated from cellulose acetate) are found to be like the skin in their respective staining properties.
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