Some Mechanical Properties of Swollen and Stretched Cotton Using Different Swelling Agents

Abstract

Bundles of cotton fibers were given swelling and stretching treatment using three different swelling agents, namely, sodium hydroxide, ethylene diamine, and zinc chloride in aqueous solution. The mechanical properties of the treated fibers are found to be dependent on their x-ray orientation factors and also on the nature of the swelling agent used. Lateral order, as measured by x-ray crystallinity, has not been found to be very important in relation to mechanical properties. A very strong and general correlation has been found to hold good between the tensile strength and static Young's modulus of the fibers.