Effects of Glycol and Acrylamide Treatments on Textile-Related Properties of Jute Fibre

Changes in textile related properties of jute fibre subjected to (a) limited oxidation using K2S2O8 or NaIO4 and subsequently to (b) treatment with monomeric/oligomeric glycols or acrylamide under specified condition were studied. Comparison of observed effects indicated that presoaking of jute fibre at room temperature with 0.5% aqueous K2S2O8 followed by an exposure to U-V light for 15 min and subsequent treatment with (i) 8% ethylene glycol, (ii) 8% acrylamide and (iii) a mixture of 4% polyethylene glycol of molecular weight 1500(i.e. PEG 1500) and 4% acrylamide produced mentionworthy improvement in textile related properties in respect of weight gain, moisture absorption, linear density, tenacity retention, coefficient of friction, flexural rigidity, surface reflectance, whiteness index, yellowness index and brightness index. Treatment of oxy-jute (K2S2O8 –treated) fibre by 1:1 mixture of acrylamide and PEG under the prescribed optimal condition appears to produce the most encouraging results as far as tenacity retention, surface appeance and colour parameters including brightness and surface reflectance of jute fibre are concerned.