Recurable Durable-Press Fabrics

Abstract

Cotton twill fabric was treated by a pad-dry-cure process with combinations of DMDHEU and several potycarboxytic acids. Fabrics were prepared with several ratios of catalytic rarhoxylic acid groups to DHEU residues in the modified cellulose. The wrinkle-recovery angles, durable-press appearance ratings, and strength retentions of these fabrics were equivalent to or slightly better than those imparted by the conventional DMDHEU-MgCl₂ treatment. The fabrics were analyzed for nitrogen, formaldehyde, ester linkages, and free carboxytic acid groups. The ratios of formaldehyde residues to DHEU residues in the cured experimental fabrics decrease with increasing wrinkle-recovery angles of the fabric. These fabrics showed very good recurahility when prepared with selected polycartroxylic acids, e.g., citric, cyctopentanetetra cartroxylic, and tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acids. The rerurahility was lost by converting the free carboxyl groups in the fabric to salt forms, but was restored when the free carboxyl groups were regenerated.

Keywords

Cotton twill fabrics cotton cellulose. Recurabte durable-press fabrics. N-methylol reagents DMDHEU. Catalyst citric acid cyclopentanetetracarboxylic acid (CPTA)tetrahydrofurantetracarbqxylic acid (THFA)NTA EDTA MgCl2·6H2O. Curing concentration pH add-on. Recuring ceasing crease retention acidification sodium salt magnesium salt recurabitity restoration. Wrinkle-recovery angle durahle-press appearance strength retention abrasion resistance breaking strength elongation tearing strength. Chemical analyses degree of substitution nitrogen formal dehyde ester free acid.

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References

Presented at the Eleventh Cotton Utilization Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 10, 1971.

One of the facilities of the Agricultural Research Service , U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The mention of trade names or firms does not imply their endorsement by the Department of Agriculture over similar products or firms not mentioned.

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