Effects of Pretreatment on the Properties of Cottons Reacted with Epichlorohydrin

Abstract

The stability limitations of the crosslinks obtained by methylolated derivatives of urea- and halohydrin-based com pounds on celluloses are discussed. The advantages of the vapor-phase technique with particular reference to in situ formation of ureas inside the cotton fabrics are described. The optimum conditions for the treatment of the fabric with epichlorohydrin by vapor-phase technique by studying certain variables like temperature, time, moisture content, and swelling agent have been given in detail. The effects of pretreatments like fatty acids, their hydroxy derivatives, THPC, APO, melamine, etc., alone or in combination of two, on the properties of the cotton fabrics treated with epichlorohydrin have been studied. It was observed that pretreatment provides a fabric with a dual-/multipurpose finish.