Crossliking Cotton in an Unheated Dehydrating Atmosphere

Abstract

A new approach to the crosslinking of cotton was investigated. Finished fabrics with wrinkle resistance properties similar to those of damp cured fabrics were produced by treatments in which the curing operation takes place over an extended period of time in an unheated dehydrating atmosphere. The crosslinking reaction, which produces wrinkle resistance, is promoted by removal of water from the fabric by contact with dried air at room temperature. The in fluence of changes in various parameters of the treatment was explored. Dimethylol methyl carbamate, dimethylol dihydroxyethyleneurea, and formaldehyde were used as crosslinking agents with hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid as catalysts. In dehydration curing, deswelling of the fiber during reaction is evidently slow and not as complete as in conventional curing at high temperature.