Cellulose durable press finishes

Essentially nonionic soil-release agents comprise polyesters, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyepoxides and polyacetals. These have been used mainly on polyester and polyester/ cellulosic fabrics, either crosslinked to effect insolubilisation (if necessary) or by surface adsorption at relatively low temperature. Polyester soil-release finishes have been most important, particularly for polyester fibres and their blends with cellulosic fibres. These finishes, however, have much lower relative molecular mass (1000 to 100 000) than polyester fibres and hence contain a greater proportion of hydrophilic hydroxy groups. They have been particularly useful for application in laundering processes. These essentially nonionic polymers may be given anionic character by copolymerising with, for example, the carboxylated polymers mentioned earlier these hybrid types are generally applied with durable press finishes. 

Substituted triazinyl derivatives of DAS are usually chosen for pad-dry-bake application to cotton in conjunction with an easy-care or durable-press finish. In these mildly acidic conditions (pH about 4) the FBA must show appreciable resistance towards the catalyst (usually magnesium chloride) necessary to cure the resin. The less substantive products in the upper half of Table 11.1 are important in this respect, as are compounds of type 11.9 where R = OCH3 or CH3NCH2CH2OH. It is likely that the hydroxyethylamino groups present in many of these compounds participate in condensation reactions with N-methylol groups in the cellulose-reactant resin. The performance of an FBA applied in conjunction with a resin finish can be modified and improved by careful formulation of the pad liquor but this lies beyond the scope of the present chapter. Alternatively, FBA and resin can be applied in two separate steps most DAST-type brighteners would be suitable if applied in this way. 

The high-temperature cross-linking of cotton cellulose by polycarboxylic acids, having three to four carboxyls per molecule, has been extensively investigated as a method of formaldehyde-free durable-press finishing. In 1963, Gagliardi and Shippee [383] showed... 

Another category of durable hand builders are formaldehyde-containing thermosetting polymers. These products are usually supplied as dispersions or aqueous solutions of precondensates of urea or melamine with formaldehyde, for example di-methylol urea or di- to hexa-methylol melamine and their methyl ethers. The thermosetting polymers are comparatively inexpensive and provide fabrics with stiffness and resilience. However, they have a tendency to reduce abrasion resistance, yellow after exposure to heat, and release formaldehyde. Melamine-based hand builders are more highly crosslinked than urea-based products and are accordingly more durable. Butylated urea condensates are especially useful for rayon fabrics (see also Chapter 5 Easy-care and durable press finishes of cellulosics). 

Easy-care and durable press finishes of cellulosics... 

Easy-care and durable press finishes of cellulosics 59 Table 5.4 Effects of the ether modification of DMDHEU °... 

In commercial use, easy-care and durable press finishes are frequently combined with other finishes to provide additional properties such as water and oil repellency, flame retardancy, soil release and the like. Often the combination of another finish with the cellulose crosslinking finish will result in a more durable effect from the first finish. Combination with pigment printing is very common because of similar chemistry to cellulose crosslinking agents and binders and the similar application conditions. 

Usable for anti-pilling Hand building finishes, for cellulosics easy-care Durable press finishes Cellulase finishes... 

Elastomeric finishes are often combined with easy-care and durable press finishes. The silicones reduce abrasion, increase tearing strength (Ehnendorf testing apparatus - ASTM D1424), and crease recovery. For equal crease resistance and durable press performance the amount of cellulose crosslinking agents can be markedly reduced in these combinations. ... 

Glyoxal reactant. Recommended for durable press finishing of synthetic/cellulose blends. Treated materials have high crease retention and excellent performance ratings. 

DiamonineB. [ICI Surf. UK] Urea-formaldehyde resin thermoset i oducing durable press finishes on cellulose fibers and stiff finishes on synthetic fibers. 

Uses Produces durable press finishes on cellulosic fibers stiffener tor syn. fabrics... 

Toxicology LD50 (IV, mouse) 180 mg/kg poison by IV route skin and eye irritant TSCA listed Hazardous Decomp. Prods. Heated to decomp., emits toxic fumes of NOx Uses Thermosetting resin producing durable press finishes on cellulosic fibers stiffener for syn. fabrics... 

Kang, I.-S., Yang, C.Q., Wei, W., lickfield, G.C., 1998. Mechanical strength of durable press finished cotton fabrics part I effects of add degradation and crosslinking of cellulose by polycarboxylic acids. Text. Res. J. 68, 865—870. 

Vinyl fibers except for vinal and vinal-vinyon do not generally undergo specialized finishing, although antioxidants and antistatic agents may be used. Vinal and vinal-vinyon matrix fibers can be treated with urea-aldehyde based durable press finishes to improve their wrinkle recovery, and vinal can be made flame retardant with phosphorus-containing finishes used for cellulosics. 

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