Degrees of heterogeneity of distribution of formaldehyde crosslinks in cotton cellulose

The distribution of formaldehyde crosslinks in cotton cellulose has been followed by electron micrographic analyses of fiber cross‐sections and by kinetic analyses of rates of reactions of formaldehyde with cotton. Rapid and slow phases of the crosslinking reactions are indicated to extents which vary with the specific processes of reaction. A wide range in heterogeneity of distribution of crosslinks is found among the compositions investigated, the most heterogeneous distribution appearing in a high concentration of crosslinks in peripheral regions of the fiber. It is evident that additional substantial differences among the formaldehyde‐crosslinked cottons are due to different extents of reaction of agent per accessible hydroxyl group.