Aluminum Salt Catalysts in Durable-Press Finishing Treatments

Abstract

Because of dangers to the environment from disposal of solutions containing heavy metals, the textile chemical finishing industry has become more interested in catalysts based on light metals for durable-press treatments. During a broad study of catalysis in reactions between cellulose and N-methylolamide cross-linking agents, aluminum salts were recog nized as particularly effective catalysts for such treatments. Various types of aluminum salts and complexes were evalu ated to produce wrinkle-resistant cotton-containing fabrics. Among aluminum compounds investigated, alone and in combinations, were inorganic salts, basic inorganic salts, simple and polycarboxylic organic salts, phase-separation salts, and urea-complex salts. The powerful activity of many of these aluminum catalysts lowers the energy requirement of processing by promoting the finishing reactions at lower-than-usual temperatures or in very short treatment times at higher temperatures