Cellulose fibers structure, alkaline treatment

Scheme of typical cellulose fiber structure before and after alkaline treatment. 

The swelling of bast and leaf fibers in alkaline solutions is a complex phenomenon. Their structure is more complicated than in the case of pure cellulose. Different components of the middle lamella react in different ways, and rates, in relation to each other and to the cellulose. In addition, the composition of the fiber changes with the time of treatment. A part of the... 

Alkaline treatment or mercerization is one of the most used chemical treatments of natural fibers when used to reinforce thermoplastics and thermosets. Mercerization leads to the increase in the amoxmt of amorphous cellulose at the expense of crystalline cellulose. The important modification expected here is the removal of hydrogen bonding in the network structure. 

Alkalization is the process of subjecting a biofiber to the action of a fairly concentrated aqueous solution of a strong base (alkali] so as to produce great swelling with resultant changes in the fiber structure, dimension, morphology, and mechanical properties. It depends on the type and concentration of the alkaline solution, its temperature, time of treatment, tension of the material as well as the additives used. Most of the non-cellulosic components... 

---