FINE-STRUCTURE OF CHEMICALLY-MODIFIED FLAX FIBER

The changes in fibre structure caused by the realignment of the microf ibrils of fibre and yarn samples treated with swelling agents, such as NaOH, LiOH, ZnCl2, and butyltrimethyl ammonium hydroxide (BTMAH), bot h under tension and slack, were studied by light and electron microsco py. The structural effects of treatment of the microfibrils and the ul timate fibres correlated with the measured variations in fibre tenacit y and moisture regain. The results of differential thermogravimetric a nalysis suggested that structural realignment of the cellulosic crysta ls had taken place during the treatments.