Tensile properties of wet cellulose

Examination was made of different tensile properties of wet natural cellulo se fiber (cotton) and regenerated cellulose fibers (rayon filament). Influe nce of the crystal region and molecular weight on tensile properties was in vestigated using mercerized and acid hydrolyzed cotton fibers. No influence of crystal region on tensile properties of cotton fiber was found. The eff ect of moisture regain on the strength and elongation of cotton decreased w ith decreasing molecular weight. The slope in the plot of tensile propertie s against moisture regain became negative, when the molecular weight of the cellulose approximated that of rayon. Changes in tensile strength and elon gation with wetting may depend mainly on the number of the molecular chain ends in the amorphous region.