Mercerization Effects on Cotton Fiber Properties
Mercerization is a textile finishing process where cotton fabric or yarn is treated with a cold, concentrated sodium hydroxide solution. This process causes the cotton fibers to swell and alters their internal structure.
The key structural changes resulting from mercerization, as explained by the observed effects, are an increase in the orientation of the cellulose polymer chains and an increase in the amorphous regions within the fiber structure. The increased orientation leads to better alignment of the chains, while the swelling potentially opens up the structure, increasing accessible amorphous regions.
These structural modifications directly explain the improvements in cotton fiber characteristics:
- Increased Strength: The enhanced alignment (orientation) of cellulose chains contributes significantly to the fiber's tensile strength.
- Increased Moisture Absorption: The alteration and potential increase in amorphous regions make the fiber more receptive to water molecules, thus improving its moisture absorption capacity.
Therefore, the reason for the increased strength and moisture absorption capacity of cotton fiber after mercerization is the increase in orientation coupled with an increase in amorphous regions.
Similar Questions
- The major constituent of cotton fibre is _________.
- The acrylic fibre is manufactured by wet spinning process rather than melt spinning process due to ________ of acrylic polymer.
- The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) gives the ________ features of material.
- The glass transition temperature of polyethylene polymer is low in comparison with that of polypropylene fibre because of ________ molecular chain of polyethylene.
- The polyester (PET) fibre spun by high speed spinning technology shows high crystalline orientation but low birefringence due to ________.
- The main objective of drawing of synthetic fibre is to impart the molecular ________ along the fibre axis.
- The glass marbles are subjected to melting process at the temperature of ________ before feeding to spinneret for its spinning.
- The primary purpose of ginning process is to ________.
- The chute feed system is beneficial over the formation of lap due to ________.
- In the draw frame, the number of sliver ends to be fed to the machine are limited due to ________ in the mass variation of sliver coming out from the draw frame.
Important Questions from Miscellaneous
- Which of the following relationships is/are not true?
(A). Most probable velocity = $\sqrt{\frac{2RT}{M}}$
(B). PV = $\frac{3}{2}kT$
(C). Compressibility factor Z = $\frac{pV}{nRT}$
(D). Average kinetic energy of gas = $\frac{1}{2}kT$
Choose the correct answer from the options given below - Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II Electronic Configuration First Ionisation energy (kJ mol$^{-1}$) (A). ns$^2$ (I). 2100 (B). ns$^2$np$^1$ (II). 1400 (C). ns$^2$np$^3$ (III). 800 (D). ns$^2$np$^6$ (IV). 900
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: - The shielding constant of a 2p electron (calculated using Slater's rules) is
- Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II Spectroscopy Property (A). Raman (I). Polarizability (B). FTIR (II). Dipole Moment (C). UV-Visible (III). Absorbance (D). NMR (IV). Spin
Choose the correct answer from the options given below: - The structure of protein comprises of:
(A). Primary structure of protein is associated with amino acids
(B). Secondary structure of protein is associated to peptides
(C). Tertiary structure of protein is associated with polypeptide chains
(D). Quaternary structure of protein is associated with polypeptide chains
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
