X-RAY METHOD OF EXPRESS ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA OF CELLULOSE FIBERS

We have developed the methodology of express estimation of changes in the specific internal surface area (SISA) of cellulose fibers by low-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS). It was shown that the main source of LAXS for dry fibers is the interfacial surface area of a polymeric matrix with microvoids rather than the boundary of the amorphous regions and crystallites. Mercerization of cotton fibers reduces the SISA only 13.7%, due to the preservation of their fibrillar structure. For viscose and siblon fibers, upon synthesis of which the morphological structure of the natural material is completely broken down, the SISA is only 13.1 - 13.7% of the analogous parameters for cotton.