Reagent Migration and the Performance of Durable-Press Fabrics

Abstract

In order to delineate the effects on reagent migration on the textile-performance properties of durable-press fabrics, dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and N-methylolpolyethyleneurea, degree of polymerization = 2, were applied to cotton printcloth under slow and rapid drying conditions, which effected uniform and nonuniform crosslink distributions through the fabric thickness. These reagents are representative of conventional and network polymer forming cross-linking reagents, respectively. The crosslink uniformity (or nonuniformity) was measured in the DMDHEU series with a negative Direct Red 81 staining technique. Fabrics with a uniform distribution of crosslinks throughout the fabric thickness were the point of reference. The concentration of crosslinks on fabric surfaces effected by reagent migration during rapid drying resulted in a) comparable development of resilience, b) slightly better retentions of breaking strength, tearing strength, and elongation, c) greater weight losses in Accelerotor abrasion, and d) comparable retention of Stoll-flex abrasion resistance. These trends occurred with both reagent systems and were detected at both the low and high levels of reagent incorporation. The results are discussed in relation to the distribution of crosslinks.