Cross-Linked Cotton of High Moisture Regain

Abstract

Two general methods for retaining the high moisture regain of cotton after resin- finishing to improve wash-wear properties have been studied. The first method was the use of hydrophilic cross-linking agents, and the second method was the use of hydrophilic additives with conventional resins. The hydrophilic cross-linking agents included methylolated derivatives of N,N'-di hydroxyethylenebisamides, dimethylaminoethyltriazone, trimethylammoniumethyltriazone iodide, and bis( 2-carbamoylethyl)dimethylammonium iodide. Several mixtures of di methylolethyleneurea and one of these agents gave better combinations of high moisture regain and crease-recovery angles than either component alone. The best combination of these properties was obtained with methylolated dimethylaminoethyltriazone. It is believed that agents of this type are effective because of the formation of hydrophilic derivatives of cellulose. The hydrophilic additives included polyethylene glycols and simple quaternary ammonium salts. These were added to trimethylolmelamine and dimethylolethyleneurea resins. Best results, on the basis indicated above, were obtained with benzyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and dimethylolethyleneurea. It is believed that these additives, like the salts and the polyethylene glycol ethers studied by other workers, function by preventing fiber collapse during curing. The polyethylene glycol that was retained in the fabric by coreaction with the trimethylolmelamine did not appear to have any effect on the moisture absorptivity.