Feasibility of Glutaraldehyde as a Non-formaldehyde Durable Press Finish for Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

Glutaraldehyde is chosen as a novel non-formaldehyde durable press finish for cotton fabrics in this investigation. The optimum technique conditions and influences of glutaraldehyde concentration and catalysts, pH value, and curing conditions for the properties of the finished fabric have been investigated in detail. The finished fabric achieves the best performance with a pH value in the range of 4 to 4.5 for the glutaraldehyde finishing bath, magnesium chloride as the catalyst, and curing conditions of 160oC for 3 minutes. In addition, in contrast to low formaldehyde resin and non-formaldehyde finishers sold in the market, the wrinkle recovery angle of the fabric finished with glutaraldehyde is better than that finished with FREEREZ NFR (DHDMI), but not as satisfactory as that finished with FREEREZ 880 (low formaldehyde 2D). However, its strength is greater than the fabric finished with FREEREZ 880, but less so than that finished with FREEREZ NFR.