A novel approach to reduce fibrillation of PVA fibres using cellulose whiskers

The present study explored, for the first time, the potential for using cellulose whiskers (CWs) for reducing the fibrillation properties of highly oriented and crystalline fibres such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The CWs were prepared from native cotton, and their aqueous suspension was homogeneously mixed with the PVA solution. The PVA-CW suspensions were gel-spun and hot-drawn up to their maximum possible draw ratio. The PVA-CW fibres, even when containing a small amount of CWs (5 wt% of PVA), showed a drastic reduction in fibrillation under a severe beating action. Upon incorporating CWs, a dramatic reduction in inter-fibrillar voids, which are responsible for the fibrillation, in highly drawn PVA fibres was observed. The oriented CWs were assumed to be embedded in the inter-fibrillar regions and formed lateral interlinks between fibrils by hydrogen bonding that resist the PVA fibrils from being pushed apart.