Sorption behavior and crystallinity of jute fiber at higher alkali treatments

Abstract
Moisture regain of jute fiber was studied at different alkali concentrations and temperatures. It was found that the moisture regain increased up to 4.5N alkali treatment and then leveled off. Variation in swelling temperature had no significant effect on moisture regain. Amorphous fraction calculated from Valentine's equation using sorption ratio was compared with infrared crystallinity. The accessibility was increased with decreasing crystallinity in alkali‐treated jute fiber, where as in cyanoethylated jute fiber it increased with increasing the degree of cyanoethylation.