Stiffness, An Important Factor in the Abrasion Performance of Durable-Press Cottons 1

Abstract

Two series of durable-press cuffs, prepared from several fabrics, showed a wide variation in abrasion resistance. This variation was observed when all the fabrics were finished with the same technique. One series of fabrics was finished with a conventional pad-bath treatment, the other was finished with a combination treatment of polyurethane and cross-linking agent. The one characteristic of all fabrics found to possess good abrasion resistance was a low value of bending moment or fabric stiffness. With one soft fabric, a number of treatments using a pad application of polyurethane, followed by either a pad or preferential back coat with a cross-linking agent, led to cuffs with an average, conditioned wrinkle recovery (first and thirtieth washes) of more than 300°, with no apparent damage after 30 laundry cycles in one test and after 50 laundry cycles in another test. The effect of pretreatments, such as mercerization or washing, on fabric stiffness and abrasion performance was shown to be that those which softened the fabric improved fabric abrasion resistance.