Raw Egyptian cotton fibers show reversible torsional rotation when the ambient humidity is changed from about 40% RH to 100% RH. The maximum angles of rotation range widely and reach up to 3430°. The direction of rotation is not definite. Rayon, silk, wool, polyvinyl chloride, and nylon 4 fibers show only a small angle of rotation. Water boiling, alkali scouring, or mercerization do not have a clear effect on the rotational property of the raw Egyptian cotton fibers. Cotton fibers taken from the freeze-dried cotton boll seem to show a lower angle and definite direction of rotation.
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