Introduction of octenylsuccinate and carboxymethyl onto starch for strong bonding to fiber and easy removal from sized yarn.

Amphipathic starch (AS) with hydrophobic octenylsuccinate (OS) and hydrophilic carboxymethyl (CM) substituents was prepared by the carboxymethylation and octenylsuccinylation of starch for strong bonding to fiber and easy removal from sized yarn. Two series of AS derivatives with differential degrees of substitution (DS) and differential mole percentages of OS to total substituents (Pos) were examined to reveal the effects of Pos and DS values on bonding of the starch to cotton and polyester fibers. It was found that the amphipathic modification was able to significantly increase bonding strength of the starch. Combination of the CM and OS substituents could increase the bonding strength more than each one alone. Furthermore, desizing trial proved that the AS was desizable by either enzyme or oxidant desizing. Starch octenylsuccinylation and carboxymethylation was a good way for corn starch to achieve strong bonding to fibers and easy removal from sized yarns.