Mechanical Properties of Cotton Fabric Treated with Succinic Acid - Tear Strength -

Polycarboxylics acids are used as crosslinking agents for cotton cellulose to produce durable finished press cotton fabric. It has been observed that the strength of the cotton fabric treated with polycarboxylic acids showed significant reduction as a result of the crosslinking process. The effect of acid-catalyzed depolymerization on the tear strength of cotton fabric is investigated by evaluating the cotton fabric treated by succinic acid, which does not crosslink cotton cellulose and form little ester on the cotton fabric. We find that the tear strength of cotton fabric treated with succinic acid decreases at elevated temperature due to acid-catalyzed depolymerization of cellulose. The magnitude of fabric strength reduction increases as the acid concentration increases. At a constant acid concentration, it increases as the curing temperature and time increases. It decreases as the pH of the acid solution increases. We also find that the dissociation constant of an acid also has a significant effect on the fabric strength reduction. The magnitude of fabric tear strength reduction increases as the acid dissociation constant decreases.