Abstract:

Raw flax fibres consist of over 70% cellulose, over 20% hemicelluloses, pectins and lignins, 2.5% wax and fat, and 3% proteins. Non-cellulosic substances constitute a glue connecting elementary fibres. Because of the huge content of hydrophobic substances, raw flax fibres are difficult to wet by water. There is a necessity of removing hydrophobic substances
from fibres before further chemical treatments. Classical bleaching of flax woven fabric is a long-running process that includes four stages, each starting from the scouring process in an alkaline bath. In order to obtain full whiteness, there is a necessity of carrying out four full stages of scouring and bleaching. The results of changes in a selected heavy metal content in flax fibres after a particular bleaching stage and dyeing process were shown. The content of heavy metals in flax fibres was determined using the qualitative (ICP-MS) and semi-qualitative (LA-ICP-ToF-MS) methods. Also changes in the content of extractable elements to artificial acid sweat was determined. The content of selected metals in flax fibres fell with a decrease in non-cellulosic polysaccharide content in the fibres. The important influence of dye fixation on the extractable copper content was also shown.