Crosslinking of Cotton Fabrics Premercerized with Different Alkalis

Abstract

We studied the properties of cotton fabric samples premercerized with three kinds of alkalis and crosslinked with varying DMDHEU concentrations in the finishing bath. At a given nitrogen content and number of crosslinks, the change in wet crease recovery angle of finished fabrics from various premercerizing solutions ranked in the order of LiOH mercerized fabric > NaOH mercerized fabric > KOH mercerized fabric > unmercerized fabric. However, changes in tensile strength and elongation of the finished fabrics for the various premercerized samples are ranked as KOH mer cerized fabric > NaOH mercerized fabric > LiOH mercerized fabric > unmercerized fabric for a given nitrogen content and number of crosslinks. The value of crosslink length for the various finished fabrics has the same order at a given number of crosslinks. Degrees of surface migration of the agent on the finished fabric surface with NaOH and KOH premercerizing are significant.