2002 Volume 58 Issue 5 Pages 185-187
Liquid ammonia treated cotton fiber and fabric were mercerized with 20% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution for 5 min at 20°C to 100°C. X-ray diffraction patterns of the cottons were measured with a Rigaku Denki III DMAX. The NH3-treated cotton fiber showed almost Cellulose III crystallite pattern. After mercerization, the crystallite phase transformed to Cellulose IIIII and a little Cellulose IIII. On the other hand, though NH3-treated cotton fabric was changed partially to Cellulose IIIII, untreated Cellulose I crystallite was remained not a little. The obtained Cellulose IIII crystallite of the fabric was completely returned to Cellulose IIII by mercerization regardless of the temperature, Cellulose IIIII crystallite was not observed despite of a decreasing of the mercerizing temperature. Therefore, it seems that mercerization of the fiber and fabric is considerably different. Apparent dyeing rate of the NH3-treated cotton fiber and fabric with C.I. Direct Blue 1 was increased by the hot mercerizing. The rate of the fiber was increased with a decrease of the mercerizing temperature, whereas that of the fabric was no difference among the temperature.