Cotton Cellulose 1, 2, 3, 4 Buthanetetracarboxylic Acid (BTCA) Crosslinking Monitored by some Physical—chemical Methods

In this research, the influence of the alkaline modification of cotton cellulose on the crosslinking with 1, 2, 3, 4 buthanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) is investigated. In order to anticipate changes after alkaline modification the crystallinity change was evaluated using wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), iodine adsorption measurements, and the Knecht method. Tensiometry, the methylene blue method, and the streaming potential method enable hydrophilic/hydrophobic character estimation, carboxyl group content determination, evaluation of dissociation/sorption fiber characteristics, as well as electrokinetic properties characterization. All these parameters define the changes at the accessible polymer surfaces and therefore reflect the relationship between the changed crystallinity and the incorporation of the BTCA molecules into accessible regions of cotton cellulose. It has been concluded that the crystallinity degree characterizes crosslinking effectiveness of cotton cellulose crosslinked with BTCA. Mercerized materials show after crosslinking higher contact angles and retain a higher number of carboxyl groups. Electrokinetic properties are in correlation with carboxyl group amount. It has been confirmed that the physical—chemical methods which were used in this research are suitable methods for the crosslinking efficiency evaluation.