Carboxyl-containing starch and hydrolyzed starch derivatives as size base materials for cotton textiles

The changes in the molecular structure of maize starch and hydrolyzed starches derived by introducing carboxyl-containing groups via carboxymethylation and vinyl graft polymerization, and the effect that these changes have on the technical properties of yarns sized with the starches were investigated. It was found that the apparent viscosity of the pastes prepared from these products depends on the degree of hydrolysis prior to chemical modification. On the other hand, cotton yarns sized with these starch derivatives were measured for tensile strength, elongation at break and abrasion resistance. It was also found that the highest values of the properties were obtained with cotton yarns sized using poly(MAA)-grafted starch derived from hydrolyzed starch. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.