Study on

The Effect of Acids and Bases on the Tensile

Strength of Fibres

Submitted By:- Submitted To:

Name-Manikandan.S Mrs. Saranya Ma’am
Std-12th Chemistry Subject
Section-A2 Teacher

Index
• Certificate
• Acknowledgement
• Introduction
• Aim
• Requirements
• Procedure
• Observation Table
• Results
• Precautions
 Certificate
It is hereby certified that original
and genuine research work is
carried out to investigate about
the subject matter and the related
data collection has been
completely solely and satisfied by
MANIKANDAN
regarding the project titled
Study on THE EFFECT OF ACIDS AND
BASES ON THE TENSILE STRENGTH
OF FIBRES
 Acknowledgement
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my chemistry teacher Mrs. Saranya able
guidance and support in completing my project

I would like to extend my gratitude to the principal sir MR.BALAMURUGAN and Vice Principal
mam MRS.ANITHA ARAVINDH for providing with all the facilities that was required and timely
support I thank our Chairman and Vice Chairman of Velammal Bodhi Campus ,Anuppanadi,
Madurai for providing us ample facilities to learn many things while doing this investigatory
project and to complete it on time

Finally, I would like to thank my parents who helped me a lot in finalizing this project within the
limited time frame
 Introduction
Fibers differ in their chemical composition and
strength. the most important property of these fibers is
their strength. The fibre should not break while being
woven and should be durable when the cloth made
from it is used for wearing. Another important factor is
that it should not be easily affected by air, water, alkalis
and acids because these are the factors which adversely
affect the strength of fibres. The strength of fibres is
expressed in terms of tensile strength. Tensile Strength
is measured in terms of the minimum weight required
to break the fibre.
Aim
To find the effect of acids and alkalies on tensible strength
of cotton, wool and nylon fibres
 Requirements

Hook, Weight Hanger, Weights,

Cotton, Wool and Nylon fibres,
Sodium Hydroxide solution and
Hydrochloric acid.
 Procedure
• Cut out equal lengths of cotton, wool and silk threads from given
samples. The threads should be of nearly the same thickness.
• Determine the Tensile Strength of each Fibre.
• Soak a given thread(say wool thread) into a dilute solution of sodium
hydroxide for about 5 minutes.
• Take it out of sodium hydroxide solution and wash it thoroughly with
water and dry in sun or in oven at 40 °C.
• Determine again the tensile strength of woollen thread.
• Now take another piece of wool thread and soak it in dilute hydrochloric
acid for about 5 minutes. Take it out and wash thoroughly with water.
Dry it and again determine its Tensile Strength.
• Repeat the above procedure for the samples of cotton and nylon fibres.
S.no. Type of Fibre Before Soaking
After soaking in sodium After Soaking in dilute
hydroxide hydrochloric
acid

1 Cotton 750 g 700 g 750 g

2 Wool 75 g 75 g 50 g

3 Nylon 375 g 375 g 375 g

 Results
•
Alkalies decrease the tensile
strength of woolen fibre, but acids
practically do not affect this fibre.
•
Tensile strength of cotton thread is
decreased by acids, and it remains
unaffected by alkalies.
•
Nylon fibre is practically unaffected
by both acids and alkalies.
Precautions
•
Thread must be of identical diameters.
•
Always take the same length of the threads.
•
Add the weights in small amounts very slowly.