Analysis on Morphology of Regenerated Cellulose Fibers with Various Fibrillation Tendencies by Enzyme Treatment Method

In order to disclose the relationship between morphology and fibrillation for the regenerated cellulose fibers, observation of cross-sectional morphology was carried out on enzyme treated Cupro®, LYOCEL, which readily occur fibrillation, and anti-fibrillation fibers such as newly developed Cupro (fibrillation-resistant Cupro), Viscose Rayon. The outer (skin) layer of Cupro®, and Viscose Rayon remained almost unchanged. Inner (core) ones of Cupro®, were decomposed into micro layers. The fibrillation-resistant Cupro did not show such decomposition behavior in core layer. LYOCEL swollen by caustic soda solution was more uniformly and rapidly decomposed comparing to other fibers. It was concluded that the skin-core structure and the degree of the hydrogen bonding in the amorphous phase are closely related to the fibrillation-resistance character of the regenerated cellulose fibers, because the amorphous region of the regenerated cellulose fiber tends to be predominantly decomposed by the enzyme.