Mechanical Properties and a Physical-Chemical Analysis of Acetate Yarns

Abstract

Cellulose acetate used in the manufacture of acetate yarns is commonly obtained from cotton-linters or wood-pulp cellulose. Varying in the origin and in the manufacturer, cellulose acetate often differs in its processability. The paper belongs to the investigation the properties of acetate yarns manufactured of the cellulose acetate varied in its origin and manufactured by different suppliers. Mechanical properties (including stress relaxation and frictional behaviour) of acetate multifilament yarns as well as physical-chemical properties of acetate fibre substance are investigated. Regular discrete relaxation time spectrum of acetate yarns is determined using the generalized Maxwell model. Experiments showed that the origin of cellulose acetate does not have great influence on mechanical properties of the acetate yarns, however, the yarn manufactured from wood-pulp-originated cellulose acetate have little advantage against others in strength and extensibility, and also are more uniform in the properties. Physical-chemical analysis revealed that the fibre of wood-pulp-originated cellulose acetate has a higher degree of polymerization and a little higher amount of low-molecular mass fractions. Surface friction of the yarns lubricated with different lubricants is also investigated.