Effects of Differential Foam Application of Durable Press and Fluorochemical Finishes to Cotton Fabric

Abstract

In this study, the effects of differential foam application of durable press (DP) and fluorochemical (FC) finishes to cotton fabrics were investigated. Two different degrees of preparatory finishing of 100% cotton print cloth were evaluated: bleach ing only (BL), and bleaching followed by caustic mercerization and liquid ammonia treatment (BL-CM/AT). The two pretreated fabrics were finished separately by one- and two-sided foam applications at 25% wet pick-up with various levels of FC (0 75, 1.00, and 1.25%) and fixed DMDHEU resin (4.00%) add-on, and at 21% wet pick up with 1.00% FC/3.80% DMDHEU add-on. Performance properties (water and oil repellency, wrinkle recovery, and durable press appearance rating) of foam finished cotton fabrics were examined.