Preparation and properties of epichlorohydrin-crosslinked sodium alginate fibers

In order to improve the breaking strength of sodium alginate fibers,sodium alginate was modified with epichlorohydrin. Then the modified sodium alginate fibers were prepared using wet spinning method. The modified sodium alginate fiber were dried at 100 ℃ for crosslinking reaction. After that the dried fibers were soaked in 0. 4% Na Cl 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% Na Cl solution was 15. 9 c N / tex. 59% and 42. 9% increase of the breaking strength was obtained in comparison with the modified sodium alginate fibers not subjected to drying and soaking of Na Cl solution,respectively. New bands( —C—O—C— and —C—Cl) at 1 256 cm- 1and 723 cm- 1in the FT-IR spectrum implied that crosslinking reaction happened. SEM and XPS images demonstrated that after soaking Na Cl solution,Ca2 +were removed from the fibers and the surface of the fibers became smooth and even.