Structural Analysis for Cellulose Fibers Treated by High Pressure Steam

Abstract

Morphology of high-pressure steamed cellulose fabrics were investigated using viscose rayon fabrics.Viscose rayon fabrics were steamed at several conditions without (dry-condition) and with (wet-condition) excess water.X-ray diffractometry revealed that the total crystallinity increased with generating cellulose Ⅳ.There were no dependences whether dry- or wet-steaming in their crystal forms.It is suggested that cellulose Ⅳ is generated from paracrystalline structure in the amorphous region.Further, steamed rayons were dyed by 5 kinds of reactive dyes to analyze the amorphous region.The relative color depths (K⁄S value) compared with the control were much decreased in dry-steamed viscose rayons whereas there was a slight difference in wet-steamed ones.The excess water at steaming showed a strong role to control the structure of the amorphous region.