Crosslinking of Cotton Cellulose with Pre-reacted DMDMDHEU-AA. Part I: Physical Properties of Treated Fabrics

Abstract

Cotton fabrics finished with pre-reacted dimethyldimethyloldihydroxylethyleneurea and acrylic acid (DMDMDHEU-AA) show that the wet crease recovery angle (WCRA), moisture regain (MR), and wicking height (WH) values of the treated fabrics increase with increasing pre-reaction temperature, time, hydrogen peroxide content, and AA content. The WCRA, MR, and WH values for the fabric samples finished with the pre-reacted DMDMDHEU-AA are higher than those with the DMDMDHEU for all cases, and the MR values are similar to those of the unfinished cotton fabric. For the same mole ratio of DMDMDHEU to AA, the finished fabric samples for the pre-reacted solutions have higher WCRA, MR, and WH values compared with those for unreacted solutions. Additionally, fabrics finished with the DMDMDHEU-AA pre-reacted in the presence of hydrogen peroxide/sodium sulfite, hydrogen peroxide/sodium thiosulfate, and hydrogen peroxide/thiourea in the pre-reaction solutions also have higher WCRA, MR, and WH values. Finished fabrics treated with pre-reacted DMDMDHEU-maleic acid have significantly higher dry and wet crease recovery angles than those treated with DMDMDHEU-AA.