Abstract:

In order to improve the breaking strength of sodium alginate fibres, sodium alginate was modified with epichlorohydrin.Then the modified sodium alginate fibers were prepared using wet spinning method.The modified sodium alginate fibres were dried at 100 ℃ for crosslinking reaction. After that the dried fibres were soaked in 0.4% NaCl solution for removing the calcium ions.The results showed that the highest breaking strength of the fibers which were dried at 100 ℃ and soaked in 0.4% NaCl solution was 15.9 cN/tex.59% and 42.9% increasement of the breaking strength was obtained in comparison with the modified sodium alginate fibers not subjected to drying and soaking of NaCl solution, respectively. New bands(-C-O-C-and-C-Cl)  at 1256 cm-1 and 723 cm-1 in the FT-IR spectrum implied that crosslinking reaction happened. SEM and XPS images demonstrated that after soaking NaCl solution, Ca2 + were removed from the fibers and the surface of the fibers became smooth and even.

Key words: sodium alginate, epichlorohydrin, modification, breaking strength