Recurable Durable-Press Fabrics

Abstract

Cotton twill fabric was treated by a pad-dry-cure process with combinations of DMDHEU and several potycarboxytic acids. Fabrics were prepared with several ratios of catalytic rarhoxylic acid groups to DHEU residues in the modified cellulose. The wrinkle-recovery angles, durable-press appearance ratings, and strength retentions of these fabrics were equivalent to or slightly better than those imparted by the conventional DMDHEU-MgCl2 treatment. The fabrics were analyzed for nitrogen, formaldehyde, ester linkages, and free carboxytic acid groups. The ratios of formaldehyde residues to DHEU residues in the cured experimental fabrics decrease with increasing wrinkle-recovery angles of the fabric. These fabrics showed very good recurahility when prepared with selected polycartroxylic acids, e.g., citric, cyctopentanetetra cartroxylic, and tetrahydrofurantetracarboxylic acids. The rerurahility was lost by converting the free carboxyl groups in the fabric to salt forms, but was restored when the free carboxyl groups were regenerated.