Reversible Crease Formation in Cotton Cellulose Dicyclopentadienedicarboxylate Fabrics

Abstract

Cotton cellulose fabric was reacted with dicyclopentadienedicarboxylic acid and with dicyclopentadienemonocarboxylic acid in the presence of trifluoroacetic anhydride. The fabric cross-linked with dicyclopentadienedicarboxylic acid had wrinkle recovery angles of 223° (wet) and 191° (conditioned). The wet and conditioned wrinkled recovery angles increased to 274° and 264° when the fabric was heated. Sharp creases were obtained when the fabric was held in a folded position and heated at 145 to 160°C for 15 min or more. These creases were durable to ironing, but could be removed by heating the fabric for extended periods while it was held in a flat position. This reversible crease formation is believed to result from the reversible dissociation and rearrangement of the cross links at high temperatures. When cotton cellulose dicyclopentadienemonocarboxylate fabric was heated at 160°C for two hours, it developed high wrinkle recovery and retained sharp creases as a result of the dissociation of the substituent groups and the recombination of the cyclopentadienecarboxylate groups remaining on the cellulose.