Changes in Fine Structure of Cotton Modified With Butadienediepoxide—Spectral and Microscopical Studies

This paper presents results of spectral and microscohical studies designed to relate observed differences in fabric properties to changes detected in fine structures of cottons chemically moditied with d,l-isomers of butadienediepoxide (BDO) under conditions of base catalysis. Cottons pretreated with aqueous NaOH (2% to 23%) can be etherified with BDO in CCl₄ while the fibers are in a wet and swollen condition at room tempera ture. with the resultant production of fabries possessing both high dry- and high wet- crease resistance. All concentrations of base pretreatments caused increased wet crease recoveries at low ad-ons of BDO. High dry crease recoveries were obtained at low add-ons only on fabries pretreated with dilute NaOH. For 10% to 15% NaOH pre treatments. higher add-ons of BDO were needed to impart high dry as well as high wet recovery. X-ray diffraction tracings indicate structural differences related to caustic pretreatments, and infrared spectral changes, coupled with x-ray data, suggest changes in cellulosic reaction sites with changes in reaction conditions. Microscopical examinations indicate formation of BDO cross links after all pretreatment conditions, but reflect differences in swelling behavior as a result of base pretreatment.