The relationship between the crosslinking structure and physical properties of durable-press cotton fabrics treated with dimethylol ethyleneurea condensates.

Abstract

The crosslinking structure and physical properties of cotton fabrics treated with dimethylol ethyleneurea (DMEU) condensates having different chain lengths were investigated.It was found that the reaction of the reagent changed at 4% of the concentration. A crosslinking reaction between the reagent and cellulose was the main reaction below 4%, whereas the condensation reaction between the reagents occurred predominantly at the concentration above 4%.The dry crease recovery angle was related to the product of the number of crosslinks and the square root of crosslinking length. The wet crease recovery angle was related to the product of the crosslinking length and the number of crosslinks.Accordingly, when the crosslinking length was shorter, the dry crease recovery angle became larger and the balance between dry and wet crease recovery was improved.It was also found that the tensile strength was directly related to the number of crosslinks: fewer crosslinks and longer crosslinking length increased the retention of tensile strength when nitrogen content of treated fabrics was the same.