THE HEATS OF ADSORPTION AND WETTING OF MERCERIZED CELLULOSES BY SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTIONS, WATER, AND METHYL ALCOHOL

Abstract
The heats of adsorption and wetting by aqueous sodium hydroxide, water, and methyl alcohol have been determined for celluloses mercerized at several different alkali concentrations. A quantity named the "heat of mercerization" has been determined, and it is considered to be a measure of the irreversible effects that distinguish mercerized from standard cotton cellulose, such as changed crystal lattice and enhanced internal surface. The extent of the latter change for the various mercerized celluloses has been shown by the heat of wetting measurements with water and methyl alcohol.