Mercerization and crimp formation in jute

摘要

The mercerization effects of aqueous NaOH solution of varying concentrations on the isolated ultimate cells and the fibre strands of jute have been studied. It is observed that the treatment with higher concentration of alkali (12% and above) results in a decrease in crystallinity index and deterioration in overall molecular orientation along with the change in crystalline lattice from cellulose Ⅰ to cellulose Ⅱ. The changes in the supermolecular structure and morphology of cellulose in the ultimate cells appear to be mainly responsible for the development of crimp in jute. A qualitative mechanism for the three-dimensional crimp formation in jute has also been discussed in terms of rearrangement of internal molecular forces in cellulose on mercerization.