Alteration of the Pore Structure of Cotton by the Wet-Fixation Durable-Press Process

Abstract

Changes in the pore structure of cotton cellulose resulting from the steps of the wet-fixation process were assessed by measurement of moisture regain, water of imbibition, and dye sorption. These measurements reveal the relative propor tions of pore surfaces in the nonswollen state, the pore volumes in the swollen state, and the pore surfaces in the swollen state, respectively. The uniformity of deposition of the methylolated melamine resin was established by both light and scanning electron microscopy; the resin is deposited on fiber surfaces as well as in the internal pores of the fibers. The increases in pore surfaces and volumes in the fixation step, as well as the decreases effected by curing, were determined in relation to the structure of unmodified cotton and cotton treated by a pad-dry-cure process employing both "resin- forming" highly methylated hexamethylolmelamine and "crosslinking" dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea reagents.