The degree of crystallinity and the disorder parameter in ramie fibers treated with various concentrations of aqueous NaOH solutions at room temperature (approximately 30-degrees-C) and at 0-degrees-C, respectively, have been analyzed by the wide-angle x-ray diffraction method of Ruland and Vonk.9-11 The results appear to suggest the presence of highly distorted crystalline regions that are first affected by lower concentrations of alkali. At higher concentrations of mercerizing strength it is observed that the lattice conversion to cellulose II is accompanied by a decrease in the degree of crystallinity and an increase in the disorder parameter values. The tensile properties of the fibers corroborate the results.