All-cellulose composite from cotton fabric and cellulose solution

Abstract

A cotton fabric reinforced all-cellulose composite (ACC) has been prepared by impregnation of fabric in dissolved cellulose solution. The solution was prepared by dissolving viscose fibres in NaOH/urea solvent at low temperature. In the processing of composite preparation, three process parameters, i.e., pressure (kg/cm2), time (s) and viscose fibre concentration (%), were considered, analyzed by the Box-Behnken design and optimized to study their effect on the weave types of fabric (plain, twill and satin). The characterization of the composite samples was carried out using SEM, XRD, FTIR and tensile tests. Changes in crystallite size and crystallinity were recorded after the treatment. No significant change in tenacity was observed, however a 49.56% increase in elongation in the case of plain ACC, 58.40% for twill ACC and 25.61% for satin ACC was observed. The tearing strength reduced by 15.50%, 28.77% and 30.54% for plain, twill and satin ACC, respectively, while stiffness reduced by 16.18%, 10.34% and 10.16%, respectively.