Characteristics of Liquid Ammonia Treated and Sodium Hydroxide Mercerized High Wet Modulus Rayon and Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

Dyeing characteristics of Avril IHWM Rayon, Avril III HWM rayon and of cotton fabrics were compared. Although there was little difference in the quantity of dye exhausted onto fabrics of the three fibers, the Avril I fabrics appeared to be darker than the Avril III or cotton fabrics, while the fabrics of Avril III were deeper in shade than the cotton fabrics. The higher visual color yield of the HWM rayon fabrics was attributed to differences in the morphological structures of the fibers. Mercerization and liquid ammonia treatment were shown to improve the dyeability of all three fibers. While mercerization had adverse effects on performance characteristics such as dry and wet breaking strength, tear strength, and flex abrasion resistance of HWM rayon fabrics, liquid ammonia treatment did not degrade these fabrics. Cotton fabric properties were improved by application of both treatments. Implications of the study are that HWM rayon fabrics can be safely treated with liquid ammonia but that mercerization is not an appropriate treatment for such fabrics.