Durable-Press Cotton by Wet Fixation

Abstract

The development of both continuous and batch steaming techniques suitable for the wet fixation of full-width cloth is described. When resin-impregnated cloth in open width is passed through steam at atmospheric pressure, steaming times of 15 sec to 2 min lead to a good fabric performance; further prolongation of steaming results in lower recoveries but greater strength and abrasion resistance. When fabric is held in steam in rolled-up form, so that the escape of volatile products from the cloth during steaming is minimized, good wrinkle recovery is obtained even after 60-min steaming. Other aspects of the process, such as the variation of impregnation conditions, the effect of partial drying immediately after impregnation, and the conditions of the final dry cure are also discussed. For comparable wrinkle recoveries and smoothness ratings, wet fixation gives fabrics with better strength and abrasion resistance than conventional pad-dry-press-cure with a DHDMEU-zinc nitrate system, the same amount of polyethylene lubricant being applied in both types of treatment.