The Relation of Orientation to Physical Properties of Cottons and Rayons

Abstract

By using a spectrophotometer to indicate the polarization of fluorescent light from dyed fibres, it is possible to measure at one time the average orientation over hundreds of fibres, in contrast to the microscopic areas previously investigated. Applying the method to cottons, a correlation is found between the observed orientation value and tensile strength. Results are more conclusive on rayons, and show a definite relation between orientation and physical properties when it is certain that orientation is the only quantity being varied. This relation is extremely sensitive to other variables, some of which are not easily recognized or isolated. Therefore great caution must attend any attempt to generalize the effect or role of orientation. It is suggested that a process of orientation affects the physical properties not only through increasing the contact area between micelles, but also by rearranging and changing the potential energy of the more amorphous material between the regions of good regularity (micelles). The anomalous behavior of the method with delustered rayons, and its behavior with different dyes, are discussed.