Crystallinity, Crystallite Size, and Physical Properties of Native Egyptian Cotton

Crystallinity and crystallite size of eight types of native Egyptian cotton have been measured by the multipeak-resolution method of Hindeleh and Johnson. Remarkable variations in crystallinity were found—it ranges between 69 and 53%—while the crystallite size normal to the 002 planes ranges between 4.1 and 3.6 nm. A sample that possesses higher values of crystallinity and birefringence is characterized by higher values of breaking tenacity and stiffness and by a lower value of breaking elongation. The finest fiber (Guiza 45) has the best structural parameters and tensile properties. Although the crystallinity and birefringence are highly correlated with the physical properties, the birefringence correlation is more significant.