The Relation of Wet and Dry Crease Recovery to Wash -Wear Behavior

Abstract

The chemical changes in cellulose fiber which lead to various wet: dry crease re- , covery ratios are reviewed. Covalent cross-linking of a dry fiber enhances both wet and dry recovery, and the ratio of the two values is believed to depend on the relative accessibilities of the fiber to water and to the cross-linking reagent. Water-sensitive links between cellulose chains can give high dry and low wet crease recovery. Cross- linking reactions carried out when the fiber is wet and swollen lead to a higher degree of intrachain reaction, which is equivalent to substitution, and to some interchain cross links. The swelling of such a fiber in water leads to good wet crease recovery, although the dry recovery is not improved. To achieve good tumble-dry wash-wear behavior, both wet and dry crease recovery must be increased In line- and drip-drying, the we crease recovery has more sig nificance than the dry.