Limitations of methods used for monitoring of various cellulose degradation mechanisms

Study of the degradation of cellulosic fibers can be based on measurement of their optical, mechanical and chemical properties. Instrumental spectroscopic methods and mechanical properties measurement are preferred. Other methods, such as viscometric and gel permeation chromatography determination of the average degree of polymerization are even more reliable. Selection of the methods for cellulose degradation monitoring must be based on the knowledge of their limits in relation to the various degradation mechanisms. This work is concerned with determining these limits of selected methods of characterizing cellulose textiles in relation to damage in acidic and alkaline conditions and to oxidation at various pH values of the oxidation bath. Model samples of cotton textiles damaged to various degrees in various media were characterized using viscometric determination of the average degree of polymerization of the cellulose, the thread tensile strength, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy.