Fabric durability

Fabric durability (tear strength, burst strength, abrasion resistance, and linting)... 

The preparation of flocked fabric using acryflc adhesives is detailed in Reference 198. In flocking, cut fibers are bonded to an adhesive-coated fabric to achieve both a decorative and a functional effect. Acrylics can be tailored to provide the unique balance between softness and durability required for this... 

These are water-soluble crystalline compounds sold as concentrated aqueous solutions. The methylol groups are highly reactive (118—122) and capable of being cured on the fabric by reaction with ammonia or amino compounds to form durable cross-linked finishes, probably having phosphine oxide stmctures after post-oxidizing. This finishing process, as developed by Albright Wilson, is known as the Proban process. 

Oligomeric Vinylphosphonate. A water-soluble oligomer, Fyrol 76 [41222-33-7] is produced by reaction of bis(2-chloroethyl) vinylphosphonate and dimethyl methylphosphonate with elimination of all the chlorine as methyl chloride (127,128). This Hquid, containing 22.5% P, is curable by free-radical initiation, on cotton or other fabrics. Nitrogen components, such as A/-methylolacrylamide or methylolmelamines, are usually included in the finish, which can be durable to multiple launderings (129,130). 

The first known fire-retardant process found durable to laundering was developed in 1912 (4). A modification of an earlier process (5), this finish was based on the formation of a tin(IV) oxide [18282-10-5] deposit. Although the fabric resulting from treatment was flame resistant, afterglow was reputed to be a serious problem, resulting in the complete combustion of the treated material through smoldering. 

Nondurable Finishes. Flame-retardant finishes that are not durable to launderiag and bleaching are, ia general, relatively iaexpensive and efficient (23). In some cases, a mixture of two or more salts is more effective than either of the components alone. For example, an add-on of 60% borax (sodium tetraborate) is required to prevent fabric from burning, and boric acid is iaeffective as a flame retardant even at levels equal to the weight of the fabric. However, a mixture of seven parts borax and three parts boric acid imparts flame resistance to a fabric with as Utde as 6.5% add-on. 

This treatment produced a fabric with durable flame resistance and good strength retention, but an undesirable afterglow this was eliminated by phosphorylation with diethyl chlorophosphate [814-49-3]. 

CeUulose phosphate esters are also produced by treatment with sodium hexametaphosphate [14550-21-1] by the pad-dry-cure technique. These treated fabrics have high retention of breakiag and tearing strength (61). The reaction products contain more than 1.6% phosphoms and are iasoluble ia cupriethylenediamine [15243-01 -3] iadicating that some ceUulose cross-linking occurs. However, siace durable-press (DP) levels and wrinkle recovery values are low, it seems reasonable that only limited cross-linking takes place. 

Phosphonomethylated Ethers. A phosphoms-containing ether of ceUulose can be prepared by the reaction of cotton ceUulose with chioromethylphosphonic acid [2565-58-4] ia the presence of sodium hydroxide [1310-73-2] by the pad-dry-cure technique (62). Phosphoms contents of between 0.2 and 4.0% are obtained. This finish is durable but has high ion-exchange properties and is flame resistant only as the ammonium salt. DurabUity on medium weight fabrics is obtained with chi oromethylph osph onic diamide. This finish has never penetrated the flame retardant market (63). 

A durable flame-retardant ceUulosic fabric with good hand is obtained by treating phosphorylated or phosphonomethylated cotton with titanium(IV) sulfate [13825-74-6] (64) ... 

Dialkylphosphonopropionamides. CeUulosic derivatives that closely resemble those based on the dialkylphosphonopropionamides have been prepared (71). The fabric was treated with AJ-hydrox raethylhaloacetamides (chloro, bromo, or iodo) in DME solution by a pad-dry-cure technique with a 2inc nitrate [10196-18-6] catalyst. It was then allowed to react in solution with trimethyl phosphite [121 -45-9] at about 140—150°C the reaction rates decreased in the order iodo > bromo > chloro. With phosphoms contents above 1.5%, good flame resistance, durable to laundering, was obtained without noticeable loss in fabric strength. 

Ammonia—Gas-Cured Flame Retardants. The first flame-retardant process based on curing with ammonia gas, ie, THPC—amide—NH, consisted of padding cotton with a solution containing THPC, TMM, and urea. The fabric was dried and then cured with either gaseous ammonia or ammonium hydroxide (96). There was Httle or no reaction with cellulose. A very stable polymer was deposited in situ in the cellulose matrix. Because the fire-retardant finish did not actually react with the cellulose matrix, there was generally Httle loss in fabric strength. However, the finish was very effective and quite durable to laundering. 

Combination Flame Retardant—Durable Press Performance. Systems using THPC, urea, and TMM can be formulated to give fabrics which combine both flame-retardant performance and increased wrinkle recovery values (80). Another system employs dimethylol cyanoguanidine with THPC under acidic conditions (115). Both of these systems lead to substantial losses in fabric tensile and tearing strength. 

As previously noted, the APO system leads to fabrics which combine flame resistance and durable press properties however, the toxicity of the aziridinyl system precludes its use in modem textile finishing. 

R. J. Harper, Jr., and M. E. Demorais, "Durable-Press Flame Retardant Fabrics Based on the LHPOH—NH Precondinsate System," Hational Technical Conference, AATCC, Montreal, Canada, Oct 6—9, 1985, American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, Research Triangle Park,... 

The constmction of vinyl-coated fabrics varies according to its appHcation. A vinyl-coated fabric used for automobile seat covers is shown in Figure 3 a woven fabric is the substrate. The material is durable but stiff and heavy. Incorporating an expanded foam stmcture into the coating layer reduces the weight (Fig. 4), and replacing the woven substrate fabric with a soft knit fabric improves fiexibihty. 

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