Varietal response of jute fibres with varying meshiness to alkali treatment: Part I—Effect of alkali concentration and treatment temperature on crimp development in jute fibres

Abstract

Alkali treatment of four varieties of jute fibres, namely W-4, TD-3, Desi and Mesta, with different meshiness levels has been carried out at three different conditions of concentration and temperature, namely 9% conc./2°C temp.(9/2), 18% conc./30°C temp. (18/30) and 18% conc./10^oC temp. (18/10). Crimping behaviour in terms of decrimping extension,

decrimping stress, decrimping energy and crimp stability has been studied. It is observed that under the condition 18/10, crimp development is maximum because of its inherent higher shrinkage potential. Decrimping energy is also found to be highest but the parameter crimp energy decay, having considerable practical importance and the indicator of crimp instability, comes out to be higher. However, for all practical purposes, considering other technical aspects, 18/10 condition gives satisfactory results in the crimp development.