Structure and thermal properties of bamboo viscose, Tencel and conventional viscose fiber

Comparative investigations of new regenerated cellulosic fibers, bamboo viscose fiber and Tencel, together with conventional viscose fibers have been carried out to explain the similarity and difference in their molecular and fine structure. The analyses jointly using SEM, XRD and IR reveal that all the three fibers belong to cellulose II. Tencel consists of longer molecules and has a greater degree of crystallinity, while bamboo viscose fiber has a lower degree of crystallinty. TG-DTG-DSC study shows three fibers resemble in thermal behavior with a two-step decomposition mode. The first step is associated to water desorption, suggesting that bamboo viscose fiber holds better water retention and release ability, the second a depolymerization and decomposition of regenerated cellulose, indicating that Tencel is more thermally stable in this process than bamboo and conventional viscose fiber.