Abstract
The reaction of formaldehyde with five cellulosic fiber substances has been studied at 30° C. The combined formaldehyde values (CF) at any given time are in the following proportion:
Cotton cellulose (native): 1.00
Cotton cellulose (mercerized under tension): 1.31
Cotton cellulose (mercerized without tension): 1.49
Viscose rayon : 1.97
Cuprammonium rayon: 2.31
Values of fiber crystallinity, moisture regain, oxidative susceptibility, and equilibrium uptake of direct dye for these fiber substances have been related with their CF values at given times of reaction.
A mechanism has been put forward to explain the anomalous behavior of viscose rayon towards formaldehyde. A method has been suggested for determining the relative accessibility of these fiber substances to formaldehyde.
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