STUDIES ON THE POLYVINYL ALCOHOL FIBERS

It is well known that conventional formalized polyvinyl alcohol fibers do not possess sufficient elastic recovery to render them applicable to practical uses. One of the prevailing methods which was found to improve the elastic properties of polyvinyl alcohol fibers is to treat the fibers with benzaldehyde. However, the fibers thus treated generally become hydrophobic and need special dyeing processes, because of its poor dyeability.The carrier dyeing process such as the use of benzoic acid, salthilic acid, methylsalicylate, n-buthanol, p-phenylphenol and chlorbenzene were investigated. It was found that methylsalicylate which is emulsified in dyeing bath is most effective as a carrier when the benzalized fibers is dyed by dispersed dyestuffs.