Investigations of Esterification of Polycarboxyle Acids with Cellulosic Materials

Abstract

The topic of applying the mechanism of esterification polycarboxyle acid and cellulosic material is discussed, as occuring in crease-proof finishing processes. Various possibilities of mechanisms present in the process have been discussed until now, but none has been verified with certainty. Applying FT-IR spectrometry and a few parameters the authors try to define the content of esthers, i.e. the efficiency of estherification between polycarboxyl acids and cellulose. The method indicates that the thesis of the mechanism functioning based on anhydride creation is a sound one, as no estherification can occur otherwise.