Reversible Vernetzung von Cellulose als Modell für den Einfluß einer Vernetzung auf die mechanischen Eigenschaften

Abstract

A modification of the method of Staudinger and Eicher was used for treating cotton fabrics with diketene. If the acetoacetylation of the cellulosic hydroxyl groups is stopped at a lower degree the structure and mechanical properties of the material remain unchanged. In a second step the acetoacetylated cotton was crosslinked by treating with different aliphatic diamines. The resulting “enamin-ketimid” bond may be hydrolysed again with dilute acids. Variations of cross-linking are possible by using material with different content of acetoacetyl groups and diamines of different chain length. The properties of the cotton fabrics have been measured before and after cross-linking (wrinkle recovery, tensile strength, saponification). The tensile strength of the treated fabrics is drastically lowered. After opening of the cross-links by hydrolysis the mechanical properties are recovered. The decrease of tensile strength therefore only depends on the cross-linking.