WATER RETENTION VALUE AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF VISCOSE FIBRES FUNCTIONALISED BY CHITOSAN AND ITS WATER-SOLUBLE DERIVATIVE, N,N,N-TRIMETHYL CHITOSAN

摘要

In this work, cellulose fibres coated by a chitosan solution and chitosan nanoparticles (based on chitosan and its derivative N, N, N-trimethyl chitosan), under different chemical conditions, were analysed regarding water retention value and mechanical properties, which are essential for hygiene applications. As evident from water retention value measurements, the treatment of fibres did not have a negative effect on their absorption properties, nor on their mechanical properties. Overall, the changes in tenacity and elongation did not extensively affect the properties of the final product and thus such modified cellulose fibres can be used for practical application in the field of medical textile materials.