The dyeing of textile fabrics . nd of a well-worn fibrepresents the aspect of a bundleof fibrils. These appearancesevidently indicate that the cellwall of the linen fibre possesses a fibrous structure. -pig. 7.—Flax Fibre under the The a^erage length of a Microscope, single fibre is 25—30 milli-metres, and the average breadth 0020—0025 milli-metres. In transverse section, the linen fibre shows a more orless rounded polygonal contour. The chief physical characteristics of the linen fibre,when freed from all encrusting material, are its snowywhiteness, silky lustre, and great tenacity. This last
The dyeing of textile fabrics . nd of a well-worn fibrepresents the aspect of a bundleof fibrils. These appearancesevidently indicate that the cellwall of the linen fibre possesses a fibrous structure. -pig. 7.—Flax Fibre under the The a^erage length of a Microscope, single fibre is 25—30 milli-metres, and the average breadth 0020—0025 milli-metres. In transverse section, the linen fibre shows a more orless rounded polygonal contour. The chief physical characteristics of the linen fibre,when freed from all encrusting material, are its snowywhiteness, silky lustre, and great tenacity. This last featureis no doubt owing to its fibrous texture as well as to thethickness of the cell walls. Its straight, even, prismatic,and transparent character accounts largely for the lustre. Linen is hygrometric to about the same degree ascotton, and contains, when air-dry, about 3 per cent, ofmoisture. It is, however, a much better conductor ofheat, and therefore feels colder than cotton. It is alsoless pliant and less Chap. IL] PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF FLAX. 19 20. Chemical Composition.—Treated with sulphuricacid and iodine solution, the thick cell wall is colouredblue, while the secondary deposits, immediately enclosingthe central canal, acquire a yellow colour. The linenfibre consists therefore essentially of cellulose, but inits raw unbleached state it is mixed with about15-30 per cent, of foreign substances, chief amongwhich is pectic acid. Fatty matter, to the extent ofabout 5 per cent., colouring matter, and other substancesnot investigated, are also present. Action of various Agencies on Flax. 20*—Being cellulose, the action of various chemicalagents on pure linen fibre is much the same as on cotton,but generally speaking, linen is more susceptible todisintegration, especially under the influence of causticalkalis, calcium hydrate, and strong oxidising agents, ,chlorine, hypochlorites, tfec. As to the action of these a«jents on the encrustingmaterials of
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