Epoxy Resin Blended Finishes for White Cottons'

Abstract

New finishes based on blends of epoxy resins with selected aldehydes, acetals, formaldehyde-amino resins, hemiacetals, and polymeric materials such as silicones, polyethylene, polyacrylates, and epoxy based plasticizers have been explored to produce new and improved effects on white cotton fabrics. With some of the formulated blends, durable wash-and-wear finishes, crease resistance, and dimensional stability are obtained which will stand repeated laundering and chlorine bleaching operations. An outstand ing finish for white cottons has been developed based on combinations of epoxy resins with dimethylol ethylene urea. The practical conditions of cloth preparation, drying and curing cycles, choice of catalysts, washing procedures, and afterfinishing operations are described for obtaining optimum results. Also discussed are the limitations of these and other presently avail able finishes for cotton, with special emphasis on some theoretical possibilities for new cotton fiber modification.