Some Theoretical Considerations of Cellulose Cross-Linking

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Abstract
Much available chemical evidence supports the hypothesis that covalent cross-linking is the best way to improve the resilience of cellulosic fabrics. This paper reviews the theories relating physical properties to cross-linking in rubbery polymers and shows that they apply in some qualitative aspects to cellulose. Particularly, the observed changes in swelling, solubility, modulus, tensile strength, and resilience are consistent with these theories. On the basis of published data, the concentration of intermolecular cross links is esti mated ; it is found that at least every twenty-fifth accessible anhydroglucose unit has to be intermolecularly cross-linked when maximum crease recovery values are attained. In rubbery polymers, substantial changes in mechanical properties are obtained at much lower levels of cross-linking. This difference between cellulose and rubbers in response to cross-linking is probably due to the polar nature of cellulose.