Chemical Modification of Cotton Fabric by TEMPO Oxidation

Abstract

Among many interesting characteristics of cotton fabrics, fine and soft handling should be most important ones, and it is quite sure that these characteristics are in the intimate relationship with the surface properties. Therefore it might be possible to develop new cotton fabrics with unique handling by chemical modification. In this research, we tried to modify of cotton fabrics by the use of TEMPO oxidation under the conditions which did not give serious strength loss and to evaluate the effect of TEMPO oxidation on cotton fabric. FT-IR spectra of oxidized cotton fabrics clearly indicated that the primary hydroxyl groups in cellulose molecules were oxidized to carboxyl groups by TEMPO oxidation. It was effective to apply two stage sequential treatment of TEMPO treatment at pH 9.5 and NaBH4 reduction to reduce the strength loss of cotton fabrics. Drape properties of TEMPO treated fabrics showed lower flexibility and higher stiffness.