Crosslinking Analysis of Polycarboxylic Acid Durable Press Finishing of Cotton Fabrics and Strength Retention Improvement

Abstract

Cotton fabric is treated in different concentrations of BTCA and SHP solutions. The fabric weight gain is confirmed by FTIR analysis, and the peak ratio of 1720 cm-1/1380 cm-1 has a good linear relation with fabric weight gain. The results show that BTCA is most effective for durable press finishing at around 2%. The moisture regain of the treated fabric decreases as the weight gain increases before 10%, and then increases at high levels of weight gain. These results indicate that except for inter- and intramolecular crosslinking, some side grafts are formed during the treatment, and at BTCA high concentrations, the quantity of side grafts increases. When the fabric is cured in tension, the intramolecular crosslinks can be reduced and the treated fabric's strength retention can improve from 45% to above 75%.