Correlation of Regenerated Cellulose Fibres Morphology and Surface Free Energy Components

Structural parameters of raw and pre-treated viscose, modal and lyocell fibres were determined using X-ray diffraction, and compared with data obtained from iodine adsorption and tenacity measurements. A good correlation was found between iodine adsorption and structural changes. These structural parameters are correlated with surface thermodynamic parameters obtained by surface tension experiments. Using several liquids of different polarities, the polar and disperse components of the polymers surface free energy were separated. The results obtained indicate that bleaching and mercerisation increases crystallinity and decreases tenacity. Both treatments increase the sorption abilities of all fibres due to a change of the fibre morphology. This is clearly expressed by an increase in polar surface free energies and a reduction -in the disperse components.