Abstract
The significance of the degree of swelling and dry-wet strength ratio (WS/DS) of rayons as a measure of structural and physical properties of rayons are discussed.
Once the concept of network structure that the crystallites are anchoring points of it is adopted for the fine structure of rayons, the degree of swelling depends on the intermicellar spaces and this is determined from the followings:
1. crystallinity, 2. molecular chain orientation in the amorphous region,
3. length of crystalline plus amorphous region. WS/DS depends on the degree of cellulose chain penetration through crystallites.
The degree of swelling of high tenacity rayon or Toramomen is lower than that of an ordinary rayon, and WS/DS of the former is higher than that of the latter. Therefore, high tenacity rayon or Toramomen have smaller intermicellar spaces and higher degree of chain penetration through crystallites.
