THERMAL-ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT CELLULOSIC FABRICS

Thermal behavior of different cellolusic fabrics was investigated in a ir and nitrogen by TG, DTG and DTA. Kinetic parameters based on weight loss for the initial and major stages of thermal degradation were det ermined. The weight loss in the TG curve for the cellulosic fabrics ca n be divided into four stages. In general, E(a) values in air are lowe r than those in nitrogen, and the enthalpy changes as well as rates of degradation in air are much larger than those in nitrogen. This indic ates that the thermal degradation of cellulosic fabric is promoted by oxygen. The E(a) values of regenerated cellulose fabrics (viscose and modal) at the rapid weight loss stage are relatively higher than those of the cotton and linen fabrics. The raw cotton has the lowest E(a) o f all cellulosic fabrics, but its frequency factor and rate of weight loss are also the lowest. The thermal behavior of linen is similar to that of the raw cotton. Bleached, boiled and antibacterially finished cotton fabrics are also compared. Thermal behavior and kinetic paramet ers for the different cellulosic fabrics are discussed in the light of their structural characteristics, including degree of polymerization, crystallinity, crystalline form, orientation and morphology. Also the effects of the impurities and additives on the fabric are considered. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.