Novel cotton cellulose by cationization during mercerization-part 2: the interface phenomena

Cationisation during the mercerisation process with an epihalohydrin results in novel cotton cellulose that gives a new dimension to cotton pre-treatment and finishing. The modified cotton retains all the beneficial properties of mercerised cotton with a change of the surface charge that ensures further quality improvement. The present paper deals with systematic investigations of the interface phenomena of cationised cotton fabric with an epihalohydrin; 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride during and after mercerisation process. The water, ionic surfactant and dyestuff adsorption, as well as surface free energy, electrokinetic potential, isoelectric point and point of zero charge determined according to the streaming current/streaming potential method; and specific amount of surface charge of modified cotton fabrics are researched.