A Comparative Study of Cross-Linked Kiered,Mercerized,and Decrystallized Cotton Yarns and Fabrics

Abstract

Kiered, slack-mercerized, tension-mercerized, and ethylamine-decrystallized cotton yarns, as well as 80 X 80 fabrics woven from these four modified yarns, were subjected to treatment with a melamine-formaldehyde finishing agent under varying conditions of tension during the drying and curing steps. The physical and mechanical properties of the cross-linked products were compared with those of the untreated control materials and with each other. Resin treatment produced similar effects upon the properties of - the decrystallized and those of the slack-mercerized yarns and fabrics. Tension applied during the drying and curing stages of the resin treatment affected the final properties of the finished product. In general, the greater the tension applied to yarns, the greater the retained breaking strength and elastic recovery but the less the elongation at break. Tension applied in this study dur-ing the drying and curing of the resin-treated fabrics adversely affected the elongation at break but was not sufficient to effect improvements in strength and recovery properties over those of similarly treated fabrics dried and cured under slack conditions.