Factors Influencing the Critical Dissolution Time of Textile Fibers

Abstract

The dissolution of the fiber takes place on penetration of the solvent sufficient enough to break down the intermolecular forces to an extent that molecular chains become virtually free, and this is observed as a mechanical failure of the fiber under tension due to the load. The tension on the fiber influences the critical dissolution time (CDT) significantly. Since the tension leads to the orientation of the molecular chains, it appears that the increase in CDT is due to the restriction to the diffusion of phenol molecules into the oriented space of the fiber kept under tension. The results imply that in addition to the crystallinity, the size, and the stability of the crystalline portions of the fiber, the orientation also influences the CDT.