Effects of swelling and stretching in water on the properties of cotton fibres and yarns

Abstract

The effect of aqueous swelling followed by stretching and drying in taut condition of cotton fibre and yarn on their tensile and rheological features has been studied. Single fibre characteristics such as tenacity, initial modulus, secant modulus and specific work of rupture get enhanced while the extension drops on treatment. Treated fibre is more lustrous and does not undergo any change due to the wetting in water. The treatment of yarn enhances its tenacity, initial modulus, secant modulus and immediate elastic recovery quite significantly. Wetting in water augments the tenacity and decreases the immediate elastic recovery of raw yarn. However, no such changes occur on wetting of treated yarn.