Cotton Fabric Strength Loss from Treatment with Polycarboxylic Acids for Durable Press Performance

Abstract

In this study, cotton fabrics are treated at different curing temperatures with different concentrations of 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) catalyzed with sodium hy pophosphite (SHP). Strength retention and wrinkle recovery angle (WRA) are tested, and the results show that high curing temperature and high BTCA concentration will reduce fabric strength and increase WRA. Regression models show that WRA has a close negative linear relation with the strength of the treated fabric. Both WRA and fabric strength are closely related with curing temperature and BTCA concentration. When the treated samples are further treated with 3% sodium hydroxide solution, fabric strength recovers in differing degrees and WRA decreases to the level of the control sample. Recoverable strength is assumed to be mostly induced by intramacromolecular crosslinking in the fibers, and unrecoverable strength is assumed to be due to the acidity of the treatment solution. The ratio of recoverable to unrecoverable strength shows that when curing temperature is around 160°C, strength loss due to the acidity of the treating solution is minimized.

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