Properties of Viscose Fibres Modified in an As-spun State by Cross-linking

Abstract

An investigation is reported in which as-spun (just before drying) viscose staple fibres were modified by means of cross-linking with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), dodecylbenzolsulphonic acid/MgCl₂.6H₂O being used as a catalytic system. Their physico-mechanical properties and their most important textile properties are compared with those of conventional (standard) viscose fibres and of polynosic fibres.

It is established that, for a range of their properties, the cross-linked fibres are superior to the standard viscose fibres and, in some of these properties, they are close to the polynosic fibres or are even superior to them.

Some of the properties of the cross-linked fibres indicate that they can be successfully used in all applications where the fibres must be intensively treated in the wet state or in the presence of strong swelling agents or solvents.