The Effects of Various Combinations of Chemical and Physical Treatments on the Physical Properties of Cotton Yarns and Bundles

Abstract

The effects of tension during resin treatment on the physical properties of yarns and fibers that had received various combinations of pretreatments were investigated for Pima, Bobshaw, and Deltapine cottons. Pretreatments included scouring, mercerization, and acid degradation. Dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) resin was applied at 2 and 5% add-on. Relationships between bundle and yarn tensile properties were studied and found to have high correlation. Some evidence was found that degradation prior to tension during resin curing has the effect of preventing strength losses due to cross linking. Degradation was observed to inhibit relative elongation losses in yarns due to tension curing. Degradation caused lower values of toughness whereas mercerization prevented such losses.