Finishing and Properties of Fabrics Produced with Polyester Staple-Core/Cotton-Wrap Yams

Abstract

Plain and twill weave fabrics produced with unique 67/33 cotton covered, high tenacity polyester staple-core yams in the warp and filling directions were appropriately finished without difficulty. The greige fabrics were desized, heat set, bleached, union dyed, and treated with different levels of dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) resin finish to assess the effect on important properties, including durable press rating, wrinkle recovery angle, dimensional stability, Stoll flex abrasion resistance, pilling resistance, breaking strength, and tearing strength. The test results show that the staple-core-yam fabrics attain satisfactory durable press and dimensional stability after an ordinary process of heat setting at 190°C for 65 seconds. DMDHEU resin slightly improves the durable press rating and wrinkle recovery angles, but more resin does not necessarily improve the properties proportionally; resin as low as 1% in solution gives acceptable DP results and improves pilling resistance. The DMDHEU resin finish diminishes flex abrasion resistance, breaking strength, and tearing strength, but the deterioration is much less than with similar 100% cotton fabrics. The breaking and tearing strengths remain especially high.