Inducing Durable Press in Ionically Crosslinked Cotton Fabric

Abstract

Significant enhancement in the performance of durable press cotton fabric could be achieved through the utilization of non- formaldehyde crosslinking agents along with ionic crosslinking. Ionic crosslinking was first effected by subjecting cotton fabric succesively to partial carboxymethylation using monochloroacetic acid and sodium hydroxide, then by cationization using 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride known commercially as Quat-188. While the partial carboxymethylation reaction introduces the negatively charged group in the cellulose chains of cotton, the cationization reaction introduces the positively charged groups, thereby causing ionic crosslinking. The ionically crosslinked cotton was then crosslinked using either glyoxal, epichlorohydrin, or gluteral-dehyde. Most of the results obtained indicated that a balance between wet and dry wrinkle recovery angles that acquired a value as high as 300° could be obtained without loss in tensile strength and elongation at break. The results also revealed that the degree of ionic crosslinking relies on the nitrogen and carboxyl contents of the finished fabric as well as on the nature of the non-formaldehyde finishing agent used. Indeed the results of this work present a new approach to the durable press finishing of cotton, and mill trials should be conducted.