A Combination of Glyoxal and Glycol as an Ecofriendly Crosslinking Agent for Cotton

Abstract

Textile finishing is the heart of textile processing. It aims to improve aesthetic appeal, dimensional stability, serviceability and alike. The object of resin finishing is to improve crease recovery. Conventional resin pre-condensates are effectively used for this purpose. Most of these resin pre-condensates are not eco friendly due to the presence of free or released formaldehyde. Due to eco awareness and green technology, it has been imperative to use eco-friendly crosslinking agents for resin finishing. Polycarboxylic acids like BTCA, PTA, etc. can be used as eco-friendly crosslinking agents. However, they are costly, and not easily available. Thus, an attempt has been made in the present study to explore the possibility of using a combination of glyoxal and glycol as a crosslinking agent at various concentrations to finish 100% cotton fabric. These treated fabric samples have been cured at various temperatures (1400C, 1500C & 1600C) for periods of 1, 2 and 3 min. Moreover, various formulations have been tested by using various additives, like PE, PEG-200, TEA, DEA, and their combinations, to improve the strength and the whiteness of finished fabrics. Various tests to determine crease recovery, strength, whiteness index, durable press rating, and bending length have been carried out to assess the quality of the finished fabric. Very encouraging results in terms of dry crease recovery angle, bending length, % strength retention and durable press rating have been obtained.