Easy care finishes

No shrink-resist polymer developed so far meets all the above requirements [301]. There is clearly some similarity with easy-care finishing of cotton. Although effective crosslinking agents are readily available for application to cotton, the morphological complexity of the wool fibre is such that an equally effective polymer has yet to be identified for wool treatment [304]. 

Combined dyeing and easy-care finishing of cotton using bis-nicotinotriazine reactive dyes and DMDHEU in a pad-dry-HT steam process [325]... 

Ingredients Table III. Typical Formulations Pigment Padding + Easy Care Finish Formulation (g/l)a,b,c Pigment Padding + Conventional Finish Formulation (g/l)d,e... 

Table 5.3 Importance of the requirements of easy-care finishes depending on the type of fabric ...

Sharpe G and Mallinson P, Easy care finishing of cellulosics , in Textile Finishing, Heywood D (ed.), Bradford, Society of Dyers and Colourists, 2003, 337-350. 

Geubtner M, Modern formaldehyde-free easy-care finishing for a handle in line with modem trends , Melliand Textilberichte, 1990, 71, 394—397, E180-E182. 

Effects of other finishes Compatible with antistatic finishes, easy-care finishes and other finishes not harmed by a hydrophilic surface. Not compatible with conventional repellent finishes and other finishes where hydrophilicity is detrimental to finish performance... 

Non-slip finishes are mostly applied by the pad-dry process, combined as needed with hand builders, repellents or cellulose crosslinkers (easy-care finish). The combination of silicic acid sols with softeners or silicone-based water repellents is crucial - their effects are contrasting. 

Permanent antistatic fmishes, based on crosshnked polyamines and polyglycols, need an alkaline catalyst. Therefore the one-bath combination with finishes, which need acid catalysis, is difficult but not impossible. Examples of acid-catalysed fmishes are the easy-care and durable press fmishes, durable hydrophylic silicone softeners and elastomeric finishes, also fluorocarbon-based repellency and some flame-retardant finishes. High finish effects result from a two-bath application with of the easy-care finish first followed by the surface-related antistatic finish. 

Formaldehyde condensation products from urea and/or melamine are shown in Fig. 13.2. They are comparable to the corresponding products for permanent press and easy-care finishes (Chapter 5). They have the same advantages and disadvantages and they often improve the perspiration more than the washing fastness. Therefore they are mostly used for lining fabrics, where their price advantage is especially important. 

Fewer undesired side effects Less strength loss by moisture controlled fixation of easy-care finishes... 

New catalysts that enable the fixation of finishes, for example flame retardants or easy-care finishes, in a broader range of parameters - like temperature, time and pH value - help to avoid mistakes and textile damage. A simple method of reducing the possibilities of production mistakes is the incorporation of catalysts and other compounds in the main product, with the positive side effect for the finish producer that no competitive products are used. 

CASSURIT NDS cone., in concentration with Catalyst AM or Catalyst TP 2135, results in low formaldehyde easy-care finishes. 

KAURIT M90 is used for the antishrink and easy-care finishing of cotton fabrics and spun rayons, for permanent fixation of calender effects, for the fixation of reactive filling and stiff finishes and for the stiff finishing of synthetic textiles, e.g., collar interlinings, petticoat fabrics, and lace. The product is often used in combination with other KAURIT or PIXAPRET types. 

FIXAPRET AH has the highest reactivity of all BASF reactants. It is recommended for the easy-care finishing of textiles composed of native and regenerated cellulose, alone and in blends with synthetics. In view of its high reactivity, FIXAPRET AH is very suitable for the flash curing process. 

FIXAPRET TN is recommended mainly for the easy-care finishing of white cotton goods. The finishes obtained with the product are fairly resistant to chlorine owing to its good buffering effect, but in this respect the product is inferior to FIXAPRET PH, COC and PCL. 

Mercerization improves dimensional stability of cotton woven fabrics [63]. When knitted fabrics are compared with respect to their relative openness, temperature increases can be said to improve mercerization because when the goods are bleached and then mercerized, the fabric becomes more dense. However, when unbleached fabrics are mercerized, the fabrics become more open [64]. Mercerization also gives moderate improvement in crease recovery of cotton fabrics [65] as well as some protection against the decrease in tensile strength caused by easy-care finishing. 

The quick-drying and crease-shedding properties of the synthetic yarns made domestic laundering much easier and eliminated the need for ironing. This created a demand for cellulosic goods with similar characteristics, and this was met by the so-called easy-care finishes. It will be apparent from the properties listed under (i), (vi), and (ix) that crease-resistant finishes can be adapted for drip-dry or wash-and-wear products. Mercerization or, better still, tension-free treatment with caustic soda before padding opens up the structure of the fibre and facilitates the entry of the precondensate. 

Urea or melamine and formaldehyde resins are not entirely satisfactory for easy-care finishes. They are not sufficiently resistant to washing, and the polymers contain secondary amino groups which react with hypochlorite to form chloramines ... 

Fixapret . [BASF AG] Textile finishh prods, for anticrease, antishtink and easy care finishing. 

Table 6.8 shows the potential applications of biopolymers or their derivatives in imparting other functional properties such as insect-repellent, waterproof/breathable coating, hand building, easy care finishing/hand building to the treated cotton-containing fabrics. 

Abo-Shosha, M. H., Ibrahim, N. A., Fahmy, H. M., and Hebeish, A (1995). Utilizing water soluble size additives in easy-care finishing. Am. Dyestuff Reptr., 84(7), 44-47. 

Chitosan treatment did not, however, prove quite suitable for easy care finishing. Chitosan treatment showed improved... 

The wet finishing operations comprise flame-proofing treatment, softening or easy-care. Among them the easy-care finish is probably the most important one. 

Easy-care finishing reduces the tendency of the fabric to crease in wear and makes it much easier to iron after laundering. It may also prevent shrinkage during washing. These types of finish have greatly reduced the maintenance which cotton and wool in everyday use require, and have increased their suitability for apparel of all types. However, there is a price for these advantages pollution. 

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