Resistance of Valonia cellulose to mercerization

The mercerization behavior at 20°C. of Valonia macrophysa cellulose of Japanese origin was investigated by x‐ray, moisture regain, and infrared spectrographic methods. The NaOH concentration range necessary for mercerization was 16–20%, which is higher than those required for wood pulp (8–11%), ramie or cotton (11–14%), and even the animal cellulose, Tunicin (14–16%). Treatment with the alkaline solution of the ordinary concentration (17.5%) for 4 days could not mercerize it, and even mercerization with a 19% solution brought about the presence of the reflection from (101)II along with those from (101)I and (101)I after regeneration. Such a high resistance to mercerization of the Valonia cellulose may be due to its larger crystallite size rather than the crystalline content.