SEM and IR studies on scouring and bleaching of linen

Abstract

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:="" "times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;mso-hansi-theme-font:="" minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;="" mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="">Sequential removal of wax, water-soluble substances, pectin, hemicellulose and lignin afforded a fabric that mainly contained cellulose along with very small amount of non-cellulosic constituents. The whiteness index of the resultant fabric (59.4) was set as a target for commercial production of bleached linen fabrics and was well achieved by appropriate selection of scouring formulation at pre-bleaching stage and by proper manipulation of bleaching sequences. The durability parameters could be maintained at a satisfactory level by controlled defibrillation of the filaments and optimum retention of the non-cellulosic constituents. The entire chemical process was monitored using a Cambridge SEM (Stereoscan 250) and 250-30 Hitachi Spectrophotometer.</span>