Cellulose ester fibers Finishes

Cotton linters or wood pulp are nitrated using mixed acid followed by treatment with hot acidified water, pulping, neutralization, and washing. The finished product is blended for uniformity to a required nitrogen content. The controlling factors in the nitration process are the rates of diffusion of the acid into the fibers and of water out of the fibers, the composition of mixed acid, and the temperature (see Cellulose esters, inorganic esters). 

Acetic acid is both a reactant and solvent in the manufacture of cellulose acetate, polyester fibers, and plastics. Other products that utilize acetic acid as a reactant include vinyl acetate, ester solvents, dyes, metallic salts, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. Formic acid is used in textile dyeing and finishing, leather tanning and treatment, pharmaceuticals, and the synthesis of the versatile methyl formate solvent. n-Butanoic acid is used in the preparation of cellulose acetate butyrates used for lacquers and molding plastic compositions. The acid is also used for the production of useful coating ester solvents, plasticizers, and pharmaceuticals. 

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